Bromoform was discovered in 1832 by Löwig who distilled a mixture of bromal and potassium hydroxide, as analogous to preparation of chloroform from chloral.

Following research by CSIRO and its spin-off FutureFeed, several companies are now growing seaweed, in particular from the genus Asparagopsis, to use as a feed additive for livestock to reduce methane emissions from ruminants.

[7] However, locally significant amounts of bromoform enter the environment formed as disinfection byproducts known as trihalomethanes when chlorine is added to drinking water to kill bacteria.

Bromoform is the main trihalomethane produced in beachfront salt water swimming pools with concentrations as high as 1.2 ppm (parts per million).

The substance is irritating to the respiratory tract, the eyes, and the skin, and may cause effects on the central nervous system and liver, resulting in impaired functions.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that bromoform is not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.