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Is Bromine Dangerous?

Bromine is the 35th element on the periodic chart. Isolated in the 19th century, it was named with the Greek term "bromos," which means "stench," because of its awful smell. It has a number of modern applications in industry, agriculture and medicine. However, there are drawbacks to the usage of bromine, particularly when it comes into contact with people, since it is essentially toxic. It is also responsible for possibly half of the ozone depletion that has occurred in the atmosphere over Antarctica.

  1. Applications That Involve Contact With Humans

    • Bromine can come into contact with humans in a number of situations. It is used as a water disinfectant in many swimming pools and hot tubs as an alternative to chlorine. Farmers use it as a fumigant to protect crops. Bromine appears in numerous medicinal substances. Photo development incurs the use of bromine compounds. Flame retardant materials depend on bromine to make human environments safe from fire. Automotive companies are presently testing bromine for use in electric cars.

    Effects on Humans

    • Bromine is fundamentally toxic to humans, though some compounds, such as potassium bromide, were used in the past as sedatives. Bromine intake has since been linked to cancer and various forms of damage to the skin, the liver and the brain. Bromine vapor harms the lungs, the eyes and appears to lower sperm count in men.

    Atmospheric Effects

    • Bromine atoms are destructive of ozone ions and consequently have severely damaged the ozone layer of the atmosphere above Antarctica. Experts estimate that about 30 percent of the bromine responsible for depleting ozone levels over the South Pole comes from human activities, particularly from the spraying of fumigants containing this element.

    Safe Uses of Bromine

    • Bromine has too many salutary and otherwise helpful applications to prohibit its use entirely. In fact, its use as a flame retardant has probably saved many lives. If people refrain from direct physical contact and/or ingestion of products containing bromine, then this element can continue to be used beneficially.

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