Registration Dossier

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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC aqua (freshwater)
PNEC value:
1 µg/L
Assessment factor:
1 000
Extrapolation method:
assessment factor

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC aqua (marine water)
PNEC value:
1 µg/L
Assessment factor:
1 000
Extrapolation method:
assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no emission to STP expected

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no exposure of sediment expected

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no exposure of sediment expected

Hazard for air

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no exposure of soil expected

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

Aquatic, sediment and terrestrial toxicity

Bromine in contact with water forms a mixture of brominated oxidants such as hydrobromic and hypobromous acids (See Annex VIII Section 9.2.2.1 Hydrolysis). Oxidants produced from bromine in water are known to be very toxic to aquatic organisms and very reactive. This fact is reflected in the EU Classification and Labelling of bromine as it is classified/labelled with the symbol “N” (dangerous to the environment) and the risk phrase “R50” (very toxic to aquatic organisms). As the reaction products themselves are reactive in the environment they will finally degrade forming inorganic bromide. Inorganic bromide is the principal ultimate degradant from reaction of these species. Bromide occurs naturally in the environment. In the presence of natural waters or test media containing biological molecules, other brominated oxidant species may also be formed. Due to the high water solubility and reactivity of the reaction products it is not expected that considerable amounts will be distributed to soil or sediment. Therefore water can be considered the primary target compartment for bromine degradation products. The available acute toxicity data for three trophic levels in the aquatic environment reflect this short-term toxicity. Any possible long-term toxicity of bromine can be related to bromide. Bromide occurs naturally in the environment and the bromide emissions from industrial use of bromine are unlikely to have an effect on the natural background concentrations due to the strict control of releases. An acute PNEC of 1 μg/L was derived for the freshwater and marine aquatic environment using an assessment factor of 1000.

There is one key study on the effects of bromine on terrestrial plants. Strauss AJ et al (1992) reported that a 20-minute exposure to bromine gas at concentrations of 1, 3 or 5 ppm to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) produced formation of visible circular, adaxial and abaxial surface lesions and leaf compression. Although the degree and type of injury varied, all epidermal and mesophyll cells were affected. At 1 ppm, some cellular changes were reversed when plants were returned to normal environments, but at 5 ppm, the entire cell populations became irreversibly necrotic.

Stringent controls are used to avoid environmental releases.

Bromine will not be released to the environment and due to the reactivity of the substance will not reach sediment or soil.

Conclusion on classification

Bromine is very toxic to aquatic organisms.