Potassium bromate toxicity and its mitigation: a mechanistic review with a transgenerational and systems toxicology outlook

Background and aim Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is a potent oxidizing agent and Group 2B carcinogen with well-documented nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, reproductive, neurotoxic, and endocrine-disrupting effects. Its toxicity is mediated through oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Despite global regulatory restrictions, human exposure persists through incompletely converted residues in baked products and as a byproduct of ozone-treated water. Most existing studies focus on acute, high-dose, single-organ effects, leaving critical gaps in systemic, chronic, and heritable outcomes. This review synthesizes mechanistic evidence of KBrO3 toxicity and critically evaluates the mitigation strategies, integrating a transgenerational and systems toxicology perspective.Scope of review We provide a consolidated mechanistic framework linking KBrO3-induced ROS generation to lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial destabilization, and downstream cell death and inflammatory signaling. Evidence strength is critically appraised for Nrf2 activation, mitochondrial preservation, and DNA repair in KBrO3 models. Mitigation strategies including phytochemicals, antioxidants, and nano-formulations are assessed for bioavailability, tissue distribution, and safety. We also highlight the research gaps regarding benchmark dose modeling, low-dose relevance, and multigenerational effects, emphasizing the translational limitations of current high-dose studies.Conclusion KBrO3 elicits multi-organ toxicity through redox imbalance and disruption of cellular homeostasis. Although several agents show protective efficacy, their pharmacokinetics, chronic safety, and effectiveness at environmentally relevant exposures remain poorly characterized. We propose integrative, cross-organ, and multigenerational approaches using zebrafish as a high-throughput model to advance mechanistic understanding and inform risk assessment and mitigation strategies.