Compaq 1825 Manuel D’Utilisation

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 bioaccumulative* 
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.

Sarah User Guide.book Page 27 Tuesday, September 3, 2002 8:33 AM