2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol)

2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol) is a preservative that is used to limit microbial activity in various products, for example, cosmetics. Bronopol belongs to the group of chemicals whose preserving abilities come from the release of formaldehyde within the product itself.

People who are allergic to bronopol should not use the cosmetic, cleaning and industrial products containing this chemical. For cosmetics, there are special regulations governing what the preservative is called. If a cosmetic product contains 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, the name must appear written in exactly the same way.

The same applies to detergents and cleaning agents for both household and commercial use.

For industrial products, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol may also be written as bronopol. It is not possible to give a comprehensive list of all the names the chemical may appear under in industrial products. People who are allergic to 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol and who have contact with industrial products should contact a dermatologist for advice.

Find out more about formaldehyde and products that release formaldehyde:

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers