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TCO'99 Requirements
Cadmium
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the
color-generating layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium
damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The
relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries, the
color-generating layers of display screens and the electrical
or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
Cadmium is a heavy metal that is Bioaccumulative.
Mercury
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches.
It damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The
relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries may not contain
any mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present in any
of the electrical or electronics components associated with the
labelled unit. There is however one exception. Mercury is, for the
time being, permitted in the back light system of flat panel monitors
as there today is no commercially available alternative. TCO aims
on removing this exception when a mercury free alternative is
available.
Mercury is a heavy metal that is Bioaccumulative.
CFCs (Freons)
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor
HCFCs may be used during the manufacture and assembly of the
product. CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed
circuit boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the
ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing increased reception on
earth of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer
(malignant melanoma) as a consequence.
D–4
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