Bromine health hazards

Bromine
Toxicological Overview
Key Points
Kinetics and metabolism
 Bromine is rapidly absorbed by the lungs.
 Ingestion of liquid bromine results in rapid and complete absorption from the
intestine.
 Bromine is distributed widely into tissues. Majority of bromine is distributed into the
extracellular fluid of the body.
 Bromine is not metabolised by the body.
Health effects of acute exposure
 The major route of exposure is by inhalation.
 Acute inhalation exposure to bromine vapour may cause upper respiratory effects,
cough, headache, CNS effects and lacrimation.
 Acute oral exposure to bromine results in central nervous system effects.
 Deep partial skin loss and skin discolouration have been reported following acute
dermal exposure to bromine.
 Ocular exposure to bromine causes lacrimation, photophobia and blepharospasm.
Health effects of chronic exposure

 Inhalation exposure to bromine vapour causes disturbances of the respiratory,
nervous and endocrine systems.
 Chronic oral exposure to liquid bromine results in dermal effects, changes in
conditioned reflexes and blood indexes.
Prepared by the Toxicology Department
CRCE, PHE
2009
Version 1 �