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5038243 
Technical Report 
Iron Drinking Water Pipe Corrosion Products: Concentrators of Toxic Metals 
T. L., G; J. B., M; T. P., L; K. G., S; B. J., L 
2013 
The capability of iron pipe corrosion products in active drinking water systems to concentrate metal ions, such as Pb, Sr and V from treated drinking water and mechanisms that can cause consumer exposures and releases back into the environment will be presented. We propose that sorption is the main mechanism concentrating metal ions on the surfaces of iron corrosion products. Typically metal concentrations in the corrosion products are an order(s) of magnitude greater than in the water entering the distribution system. Several mechanisms, including hydraulic disturbances, chemical disassociations, road work, or earthquakes, can result in acute exposures of consumers or concentrated releases of toxic metals back into the environment.