Bromine is a disinfectant that works in a similar way to chlorine, in that it oxidises pollution on contact. The active disinfectant produced by the addition of chlorine-based disinfectants is hypochlorous acid, whereas the active disinfectant produced by the addition of bromine-based disinfectants is hypobromous acid.

Bromine-based disinfectants are not widely used in conventional commercial pools, largely because it is known to sometimes cause a condition known as ‘bromine itch’ in so...