METALLERNA I VATTENLEDNINGSVATTEN, Metals in Drinking Water
The occurrence of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium and chromium in water distributed by Finnish waterworks was investigated in 1983. The volume of water from the 55 waterworks investigated covers 67 % of the total volume of public water supplied in Finland. The total number of water samples was 863. The possible connection between the occurrence of metals and the type of waterworks (surface/ground water, water treatment process) was surveyed. In general, the metal concentrations in water samples taken from both the water supply and the distribution network were very low. Concentrations exceeding the recommended limits established by the National Board of Health were observed in the following number of samples: copper 30, zinc 2 and lead 1. Much of the metals in tap water seems to originate from the materials used for water pipes and armatures. “Complete abstract not presented.”