A baseline study of metal ion content of Irish Canals by ICP-MS

The first systematic study of the metal ion content of the four main Irish Canal Systems is presented. Samples were collected seasonally over a twelve month period and analysed for 16 trace elements and metals by ICP-MS. The results show that three of the four canals (Royal, Grand, Shannon-Erne) have distinctly different elemental profiles, while the fourth (Barrow) is similar to the Grand Canal, which is to be expected, as they are broadly part of the same system, with a common main feeder. Spatial plots reveal local variations in certain elements, which are related to the nature of feeders in those localities. Simple tests based solely on the 16 elements measured showed that it may be possible to broadly define 'normal' compositions for each canal system, which can be then used to identify 'abnormal' data, and hence provide indicators for environmental change.