Bromine is another oxidizing chemical that in different forms can be used to control zebra mussels. It is also a component of some proprietary products, along with chlorine and other chemicals. This chemical has a reputation of being less environmentally harmful than chlorine. ACTI-BROM 1338, a product of Nalco Chemical, is an aqueous solution of sodium bromide and an oxyalkylate. Its aqueous chemistry is similar to chlorine, and when added to chlorinated water, ACTI-BROM 1338 forms hypobromous acid and a hypobromite ion depending on water pH. Sodium bromide is not acutely toxic to aquatic animals but ACTI-BROM 1338, converted to total residual bromine (TRB), was toxic to fish and daphnids at concentrations less than 80 ppb (EPRI 1993). Concentrations toxic to asian clams, expressed as TRC + TRB, are in the range of 1350 ppb. TRB has been reported to be toxic to nontarget organisms at concentrations of 32 ppb (EPRI 1993). For more specific information on toxicity to nontargets, see Table 2 in the bromine section of the Zebra Mussel Chemical Control Guide.
Management and Control Contents