Why did bromine use change after leaded gasoline was abandoned?

Historically, the industrial use of bromine was dominated by the production of ethylene bromide, which was added to gasoline alongside tetraethyl lead. In this application, ethylene bromide functioned as a "scavenger" to remove lead deposits from engine cylinders, preventing the buildup of lead that would otherwise accumulate during combustion.12

Following the global abandonment of leaded gasoline, the demand for ethylene bromide in the automotive sector declined significantly. Consequently, the industrial focus for bromine compounds shifted toward other applications, most notably the production of flame retardants. While ethylene bromide remains in use for specialized purposes, such as destroying nematodes and other soil pests, the transition away from leaded fuel fundamentally altered the primary market for bromine production.12