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Environmental criteria impose restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and
chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs (freons) and chlorinated solvents, and other materials. The
product must be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental
policy which must be adhered to in each country where the company implements its operational
policy.
Energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or display, after a certain period of
inactivity, shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level in one or more stages. The length of
time to reactivate the computer shall be reasonable for the user.
Labeled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, in respect of the reduction
of electric and magnetic fields as well as physical and visual ergonomics.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product.
The complete environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 STOCKHOLM, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
E-mail (Internet): development@tco.se
Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labeled products may also be obtained via the
Internet, using the address: http://www.tcodevelopment.com/
Environmental requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. Their
purpose is to prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer
casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or chlorine,
and those flame retardants are chemically related to PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing
bromine or chlorine and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to health effects, including
reproductive damage in fish-eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes
when not disposed of in accordance with strict standards for disposal.
The relevant TCO'99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must
not contain flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are
allowed in the printed circuit boards since no substitutes are available.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain computer
displays.
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display
screens and the electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
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*Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living organisms.
**Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are bio-accumulative.
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