The biogenic amines content in fish products has been widely studied due to their potential toxicity and possible indication of the spoilage degree of food. One particular amine, histamine, is behind several outbreaks of food poisoning, particularly in fish products. However, histamine alone appears to be insufficient to cause intoxications, being putrescine and cadaverine, potentiators agents that contribute to its toxicity.
Several methodologies have been studied and developed for determination of bi-ogenic amines in food products. Ion Mobility Spectrometry coupled with Multi Capil-lary Columns or Gas Chromatography offers a higher sensitivity and selectivity on com-plex biological matrices analysis, providing the monitoring of trace levels of volatile compounds.
The aim of this thesis is to evaluate Gas Chromatography coupled with Ion Mobil-ity Spectrometry as a tool for monitoring non-volatile amines emission from fish tissues matrices, allowing the detection and establishment of specific patterns of biogenic amines.
Samples of histamine dihydrochloride, putrescine, cadaverine, tyramine, trypta-mine, spermine, spermidine and phenethylamine were analysed. Samples of atlantic bo-nito, atlantic horse mackerel and sardine were collected and analysed over time of four days to allow an assessment of fish spoilage. With the exception of histamine, it was possible to obtain an identifier pattern for all analysed amines. The presence of some amines was also observed in the fish samples spectra
