Samsung SAMTRON 591S Benutzerhandbuch

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complete environmental criteria document may be ordered from: 
TCO Development 
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden 
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07 
Email (Internet): 
development@tco.se
 
 
Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labelled products may also be obtained 
via the Internet, using the address: 
http://www.tco-info.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 chloride, and those flame retardants are chemically related to another group of 
environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chloride and the 
PCBs are suspected of giving rise to severe health effects, including reproductive damage in 
fish-eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame retardants have 
been found in human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus development may 
occur. 
 
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 today 
there 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. 
 
 
TCO'03-Ecological requirements for personal computers (TCO'03 applied model only)