Bromine is the only liquid nonmetallic element. It presents a serious health hazard, and maximum safety precautions should be taken when handling it. Lead in gasoline, however, has been drastically reduced, due to environmental considerations. This will greatly affect future production of bromine. Bromine is also used in making fumigants, flameproofing agents, water purification compounds, dyes, medicinals, sanitizers, inorganic bromides for photography, etc.
Organic bromides are also important.
Natural bromine is made of two isotopes, 79Br and 81Br. Thirty three isotopes and isomers are known. Liquid bromine penetrates the tissue rapidly and produces eruptions, irritations, and painful injuries which heal slowly. It does not occur in nature in pure form because of its high reactivity but is found as a normal secondary component of chlorine in minerals and biological systems. This was similar to avg level found in the Miomote River.