Compaq 1501 Manual De Usuario

 

34 

Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product. The complete 
environmental criteria document may be ordered from: 

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/ 

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 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 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. 

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 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 

 
 

29 January, 1999