For definition of Groups, see Preamble Evaluation. Bromoform has a limited number of industrial uses. It is also found in chlorinated drinking-water as a consequence of the reaction between chlorine, added during water treatment, and natural organic substances in the presence of bromide ion.
Bromoform is the major organohalide produced by chlorination of seawater during desalination.
It is a major component of the organohalides produced by marine algae. The major route of human exposure to bromoform is from drinking-water, although ambient air is also an important source of exposure in some areas. 5.2 Experimental carcinogenicity data Bromoform was tested for carcinogenicity in a two-year study by oral gavage in male and female B6C3F1 mice and Fischer 344 rats. It induced adenomatous polyps and adenocarcinomas of the large intestine in male and female rats. Bromoform did not increase the proportion of mice with tumours.