Telecommunications monitor computer

Nowadays the electronic appliances used for entertainment, telecommunications and data processing are widespread in daily life. Typical examples include televisions, video recorders, hi-fi systems and fax machines, not to mention computers with their peripherals such as monitors and printers, scanners and copiers. These devices are predominantly made of polymeric components and materials which might contain additives, such as flame retardants and plasticizers (Wensing, Uhde and Salthammer, 2005) to obtain specific desired properties. In addition, there will also be chemical residues from production and processing aids, such as residual monomers and solvents. Especially under operating conditions these compounds can be released from electronic equipment into indoor air due to the heating-up of the device interior. In many cases, such emissions can be monitored via simple odor tests (Walpot, 1996). 

Computers and computer telecommunications are integral components of the entire analytical and reporting process and control the data input, operation, monitoring, and data reporting functions in automated analyzers. Also, workstations have been used to integrate the operation of one or more laboratory analyzers. Individual analyzers and/or their workstations are electronically interfaced with large central data repositories on laboratory information systems (LIS) and/or laboratory automation systems (LAS) (see Chapter 18). 

Spectroscopic methods usually need the least frequent recalibration of virtually any analytical technique. No chemicals are needed and, with fiber optic probes and NEMA containment, spectrometers can be made quite safe to operate in hazardous atmospheres. The operator of the spectrometer may, indeed, even be located at a remote lab and still monitor the process in real time via computer and telecommunications networking. 

The highest-volume FR in use worldwide, TBBPA, is used mainly as a reactive flame retardant in epoxy resins for printed circuit boards in computers and telecommunications equipment (Covaci et al. 2009). In reactive applications, TBBPA is covalently bound into the polymer in products and is not expected to migrate from the product. However, TBBPA is also used as an additive to circuit boards for low-energy applications such as remote controls and video recorders as well as the plastic housing for electrical and electronic equipment such as computer monitors and printers (Covaci et al. 2009). Both additive- and reactive-treated products have been shown to release TBBPA and metabolites into the environment (Bimbaum and Staskal 2004). 

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