The growth of barrier anodic film is considered theoretically with regard to the migration of three ionic carriers: oxygen and metal ions and electrolyte anions. It is shown that the consideration of anion transport leads to the conclusion that the film grows at three interfaces: the metal/oxide and oxide/electrolyte interfaces and the interface between an oxide layer containing electrolyte anions (contaminated layer) and the oxide layer free of them ("pure" layer). The error in the measured transport numbers of metal and oxygen, which is caused by ignoring a contribution of electrolyte anions to the total charge transport, is maximum in the absence of anion motion. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.