Owner's Manual
Environmental
Labelling
of
Personal
Computers
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.
Cadmium
damages
the
nervous
system
and
is
toxic
in
high
doses.
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.
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.
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.
Lead**
Lead
can
be
found
in
picture
tubes,
display
screens,
solders
and
capacitors.
Lead
damages
the
nervous
system
and
in
higher
doses,
causes
lead
poisoning.
The
relevant
TCO'99
requirement
permits
the
inclusion
of
lead
since
no
replacement
has
yet
been
developed.
*
Bio-accumulative
is
defined
as
substances
which
accumulate
within
living
organisms
**
Lead,
Cadmium
and
Mercury
are
heavy
metals
which
are
Bio-accumulative.