Right to Know

Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Common Name: BROMINE
Synonyms: None CAS Number: 7726-95-6
Chemical Name: Bromine RTK Substance Number: 0252
Date: November 2007 Revision: April 2017 DOT Number: UN 1744

Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE BACK PAGE

Bromine is a corrosive dark, reddish-brown, fuming liquid or Hazard Summary
vapor. It is used as an additive in gasoline, in making fire Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA
retardants, dyes, pharmaceuticals, fumigants and photographic HEALTH - 3
chemicals, and in water purification. FLAMMABILITY - 0
REACTIVITY - 0
 ODOR THRESHOLD=0.051 to 3.5 ppm
CORROSIVE
 Odor thresholds vary greatly. Do not rely on odor alone to STRONG OXIDIZER
determine potentially hazardous exposures. POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE

Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious;

4=severe
Reasons for Citation
 Bromine is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List
 Bromine can affect you when inhaled and by passing
because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, through the skin.
NFPA and EPA.  Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes.
 This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance  Inhaling Bromine can irritate the nose and throat.
List.  Inhaling Bromine can irritate the lungs. Higher exposures
may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary
edema), a medical emergency.
SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5.  Repeated exposure can cause headache, dizziness, nausea
and vomiting.
 Bromine is not combustible but it is a STRONG OXIDIZER
FIRST AID which enhances the combustion of other substances.
Eye Contact
 Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 30
minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact
lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention Workplace Exposure Limits
immediately. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is
0.1 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
Skin Contact
 Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash
contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is
Seek medical attention immediately. 0.1 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and
0.3 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute
Inhalation
work period.
 Remove the person from exposure.
 Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if
breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.1 ppm averaged
 Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
over an 8-hour workshift and 0.2 ppm as a STEL
 Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after
(short-term exposure limit).
overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed.

 The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin
contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though
EMERGENCY NUMBERS air levels are less than the limits listed above.
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300
NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337
National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802
BROMINE Page 2 of 6

Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard

 There is limited evidence that Bromine may damage the
 Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data male reproductive system (including decreasing the sperm
Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product count and affect fertility).
ingredients and important safety and health information
about the product mixture. Other Effects
 For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New  Repeated exposure can cause headache, dizziness, nausea
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and vomiting.
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, available on the RTK  Bromine can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure may
cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, and/or
Program website
shortness of breath.
(http://nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/right-to-
know/) or in your facility’s RTK Central File or Hazard
Communication Standard file.
Medical
 You have a right to this information under the New Jersey
Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Medical Testing
For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or
Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act
greater), the following are recommended before beginning
if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the work and at regular times after that:
federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you
are a private worker.  Lung function tests
 The New Jersey Right to Know Act and the PEOSH
If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the
Hazard Communication Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) following is recommended:
requires most employers to label chemicals in the
workplace and requires public employers to provide their  Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure
employees with information concerning chemical hazards
and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and
Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires private employers present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for
damage already done are not a substitute for controlling
to provide similar information and training to their
exposure.
employees.
Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right
This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee
regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020).
Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other
factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential Mixed Exposures
effects described below.  Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer,
emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen
respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if
Health Hazard Information you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce
Acute Health Effects your risk of developing health problems.
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur
immediately or shortly after exposure to Bromine:

 Contact can severely irritate and burn the eyes causing

watery eyes, redness and pain.
 Contact can irritate the skin and cause severe burns,
discoloration and slow healing ulcers.
 Inhaling Bromine can irritate the nose and throat.
 Inhaling Bromine can irritate the lungs causing coughing
and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may cause a
build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical
emergency, with severe shortness of breath.

Chronic Health Effects

The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at
some time after exposure to Bromine and can last for months
or years:

Cancer Hazard
 According to the information presently available to the New
Jersey Department of Health, Bromine has not been tested
for its ability to cause cancer in animals.
BROMINE Page 3 of 6

Workplace Controls and Practices Respiratory Protection

Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators
sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less should only be used if the employer has implemented a written
toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures program that takes into account workplace conditions,
include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and
irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory
ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single
exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134).
exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on
workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control  Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.1 ppm, use a
Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with an organic
vapor/acid gas cartridge which is specifically approved for
The following work practices are also recommended: Bromine. Increased protection is obtained from full
facepiece powered-air purifying respirators.
 Label process containers.  Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or
 Provide employees with hazard information and training. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect
 Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. Bromine, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal
 Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation
recommended exposure levels. occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to
 Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is,
 Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good,
material. you may need a new respirator.
 Always wash at the end of the workshift.  Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace.
 Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges
contaminated. to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as
 Do not take contaminated clothing home. vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals.
 Get special training to wash contaminated clothing.  Where the potential exists for exposure greater than 1 ppm
 Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are but less than 3 ppm, use a NIOSH approved supplied-air
being handled, processed or stored. respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-
 Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased
applying cosmetics or using the toilet. protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained
breathing apparatus or an emergency escape air cylinder.
 Exposure to 3 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and
health. If the possibility of exposure above 3 ppm exists,
Personal Protective Equipment use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus
with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other
The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR
positive-pressure mode equipped with an emergency escape
1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate air cylinder.
personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train
employees on how and when to use protective equipment.

Fire Hazards
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may
If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained
not apply to every situation.
and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard
(29 CFR 1910.156).
Gloves and Clothing
 Avoid skin contact with Bromine. Wear personal protective
equipment made from material which can not be permeated  Bromine is not combustible but it is a STRONG OXIDIZER
or degraded by this substance. Safety equipment suppliers which will enhance the burning of other materials.
and manufacturers can provide recommendations on the  Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of
most protective glove and clothing material for your surrounding fire.
operation.  POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE.
 Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Neoprene and  Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.
Nitrile for gloves and DuPont Tychem® TK (40 min.  Bromine may ignite combustible and organic materials
breakthrough sat. vapor; >8-hr breakthrough @ 10 g/m2) as (wood, paper and oil).
protective material for clothing.
 All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear)
should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.

Eye Protection
 Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working
with fumes, gases, or vapors.
 Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with
corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances.
 Do not wear contact lenses when working with this
substance.
BROMINE Page 4 of 6

Spills and Emergencies Occupational Health Information

If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be
Resources
properly trained and equipped. The OSHA Hazardous Waste
Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR The New Jersey Department of Health offers multiple services
1910.120) may apply. in occupational health. These services include providing
informational resources, educational materials, public
If Bromine is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: presentations, and industrial hygiene and medical
investigations and evaluations.
 Evacuate personnel and secure and control entrance to the
area.
 Eliminate all ignition sources. For more information, please contact:
 Cover with dry lime, sand or soda ash, and place in covered
containers for disposal.
 Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. New Jersey Department of Health
 It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Bromine as a Right to Know Program
HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of PO Box 368
Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific Phone: 609-984-2202
recommendations. Fax: 609-984-7407
E-mail: [email protected]
Web address:
Handling and Storage http://nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/right-to-
Prior to working with Bromine you should be trained on its know/
proper handling and storage.
The Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets
 Bromine will react violently with ALUMINUM and are not intended to be copied and sold
AQUEOUS AMMONIA. for commercial purposes.
 Bromine is not compatible with REDUCING AGENTS (such
as LITHIUM, SODIUM, and their HYDRIDES); MERCURY;
PHOSPHORUS; TITANIUM; POTASSIUM; SODIUM;
HALOCARBONS; METAL CARBIDES; METAL SALTS;
AMINES; and OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as
PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES,
CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and
FLUORINE).
 Contact with COMBUSTIBLE and ORGANIC MATERIALS
(such as FUELS, WOOD and OILS) may cause a fire.
 Bromine will attack METALS (such as IRON, STEEL,
STAINLESS STEEL and COPPER).
 Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated
area away from HEAT.
BROMINE Page 5 of 6

GLOSSARY

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial LEL or Lower Explosive Limit, is the lowest concentration of
Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of
Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. continuing an explosion.

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air.
by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume).
once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals.
A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation
Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations
change its physical state from a liquid to a gas. can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies
substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.
The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned by
the Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves
CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and
regulations of the United States government. proposes standards to OSHA.
A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals
and reviews evidence for cancer.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes
destruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers. OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety
DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental standards.
Protection.
PEOSHA is the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency Safety and Health Act, which adopts and enforces health and
that regulates the transportation of chemicals. safety standards in public workplaces.
EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal Permeated is the movement of chemicals through protective
agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. materials.
ERG is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a guide for PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison
emergency responders for transportation emergencies Inhalation Hazards.
involving hazardous substances.
ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG) values measure of concentration by volume in air.
are intended to provide estimates of concentration ranges
where one reasonably might anticipate observing adverse A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases
effects. energy under certain conditions.
A fetus is an unborn human or animal. STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15-
minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will during a work day.
ignite easily and burn rapidly.
A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid damaging the fetus.
gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air.
UEL or Upper Explosive Limit is the highest concentration in
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a air above which there is too much fuel (gas or vapor) to begin a
scientific group. reaction or explosion.
Ionization Potential is the amount of energy needed to Vapor Density is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of
remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured one gas to the weight of another (usually Hydrogen), at the
in electron volts. same temperature and pressure.
IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a
maintained by federal EPA. The database contains solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure
information on human health effects that may result from indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and
exposure to various chemicals in the environment. therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.
 Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
Common Name: BROMINE
Synonyms: None
CAS No: 7726-95-6
Molecular Formula: Br2
RTK Substance No: 0252
Description: Dark, reddish-brown, corrosive, fuming liquid or vapor

HAZARD DATA
Hazard Rating Firefighting Reactivity
3 - Health Bromine is not combustible but it is a Bromine will react violently with ALUMINUM and AQUEOUS
STRONG OXIDIZER which will enhance the AMMONIA.
0 - Fire burning of other materials. Bromine is not compatible with REDUCING AGENTS (such
0 - Reactivity Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type as LITHIUM, SODIUM, and their HYDRIDES); MERCURY;
of surrounding fire. PHOSPHORUS; TITANIUM; POTASSIUM; SODIUM;
DOT#: UN 1744 HALOCARBONS; METAL CARBIDES; METAL SALTS;
POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN
ERG Guide #: 154 FIRE AMINES; and OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as
Use water spray to keep fire-exposed PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES,
Hazard Class: 8 CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and
containers cool.
(Corrosive) FLUORINE).
Contact with COMBUSTIBLE and ORGANIC MATERIALS
(such as FUELS, WOOD and OILS) may cause a fire.
Bromine will attack METALS (such as IRON, STEEL,
STAINLESS STEEL and COPPER).
SPILL/LEAKS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Isolation Distance: Odor Threshold: 0.051 - 3.5 ppm
Flash Point: Not Combustible
Small Spills: 60 meters (200 feet) Vapor Density: 5.5 (air = 1)
Large Spills: 330 meters (1,100 feet) Vapor Pressure: 175 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC)
Specific Gravity: 3.12 (water = 1)
Cover with dry lime, sand or soda ash, and place in Water Solubility: Very slightly soluble
covered containers for disposal.
Boiling Point: 138oF (58.8oC)
Melting Point: 19.4oF (-7.25oC)
Ionization Potential: 10.55 eV
Molecular Weight: 159.8
EXPOSURE LIMITS PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
OSHA: 0.1 ppm, 8-hr TWA Gloves: Neoprene and Nitrile (>8-hr breakthrough for Bromine
NIOSH: 0.1 ppm, 10-hr TWA; 0.3 ppm STEL water)
Coveralls: DuPont Tychem® TK (40 min. breakthrough sat. vapor;
ACGIH: 0.1 ppm, 8-hr TWA; 0.2 ppm STEL
>8-hr breakthrough @ 10 g/m2)
IDLH LEVEL: 3 ppm Boots: Neoprene
PAC PAC-1 = 0.033 ppm; PAC-2 = 0.24 ppm; Respirator: > 0.1 ppm - full facepiece APR with OV/AG cartridges
LEVELS: PAC-3 = 8.5 ppm
> 1 ppm - Pressure demand supplied-air
> 3 ppm - Pressure demand SCBA
HEALTH EFFECTS FIRST AID AND DECONTAMINATION
Eyes: Irritation, burns Remove the person from exposure.
Skin: Irritation, burns, discoloration and slowly Flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 30 minutes. Remove
healing ulcers contact lenses if worn. Seek medical attention immediately.
Quickly remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with
Acute: Irritation of nose, throat and lungs with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical attention
coughing and shortness of breath immediately.
Chronic: Coughing, phlegm and shortness of breath, Begin artificial respiration if breathing has stopped and CPR if
headache, dizziness necessary.
Transfer to a medical facility.
Medical observation is recommended as symptoms may be delayed.
April 2017