Investigations were carried out to extract the volatile compounds of fish using solid phase microextraction (SPME) in order to develop a new rapid indicator for determining the quality of fish. Changes in the aroma composition of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) was studied at 30°C and in ice, using SPME GC-MS, and their relationship with the fish quality parameters -total volatile basic nitrogen and sensory analysiswas determined using principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Hexanal (30.9%) and 2-nonanone (28.4%) were recorded in relatively high amounts in fresh fish, whereas 3-methyl-1-butanol and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone increased with storage time. PCA clearly differentiated the volatile profile of each sampling stage (P < 0.05) throughout storage treatments. Regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the fish quality and the levels of 3-methyl-1-butanol and pentadecane. The findings highlight the possibility of developing a rapid quality evaluation method for fish using SPME GC-MS.

Total mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels were determined in the muscle of four commercialised exported fish species Thunnus albacares (yellowfin tuna), Xiphias gladius (swordfish), Makaira indica (black marlin) and Lutjanus sp (red snapper) collected from the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, during July 2009-March 2010 and measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results show that swordfish (n = 176) contained the highest total Hg (0.90 ± 0.51 mg/kg) and Cd (0.09 ± 0.13 mg/kg) levels, whereas yellowfin tuna (n = 140) contained the highest Pb levels (0.11 ± 0.16 mg/kg). The lowest total Hg (0.16 ± 0.11 mg/kg), Cd (0.01 ± 0.01 mg/kg) and Pb (0.04 ± 0.04 mg/kg) levels were found in red snapper (n = 28). Black marlin (n = 24) contained moderate levels of total Hg (0.49 ± 0.37), Cd (0.02 ± 0.02) and Pb (0.05 ± 0.05). Even though there are some concerns during certain months of the year, this study demonstrates the safety of main export fish varieties in terms of total Hg, Cd and Pb.

Mercury (Hg) is a global environmental pollutant that has been the cause of many public health concerns. It is transferred through trophic level and bio magnification in the food chain. Total Hg level was measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry in muscle tissue of 176 Swordfish (Xiphiasgladius) samples ranging from 11.8-112.0 kg total weight and 45-278 cm total length, collected from major fish landing sites in Sri Lanka during July 2009 to March 2010. Total Hg concentration varied between 0.18-2.58 mg/kg wet weight (ww), with a mean value ± standard deviation of 0.90 ± 0.52 mg/kg ww. Of the investigated samples 32% exceeded Hg limits as set by the European Union and Sri Lankan legislation (1 mg/kg, ww). Hg concentration of swordfish showed a significant positive relationship (P value < 0.05) with the fish length and weight. Consequently, consumption of larger fish leads to an increase in the exposure level for consumers.

Most heavy metals which bio-accumulate in fishes, especially predatory species do not have any biological significance or beneficial use, but due to the presence of heavy metal fish can pose a health risk to consumers. The objective of this research is to determine mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) levels in samples of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacores (n=25), swordfish, Xiphias gladius (n=35), and red snapper, Lutjanus sp (n=12). Samples were prepared by dividing edible parts into small pieces and homogenizing. Total Hg was measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry whereas the Pb and Cd were analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted digestion. Swordfish contains highest mercury and cadmium concentrations while yellowfin tuna contained the highest lead concentrations. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in fish muscles were found to be 1.24± 0.72 mg/kg (Hg), 0.13±0.83 mg/kg (Cd) and 0.03±0.04 mg/kg (Pb) in swordfish and 0.39± 0.19 mg/kg (Hg), 0.02±0.02 mg/kg (Cd) and 0.06±0.06 mg/kg (Pb) in yellowfin tuna. In red snapper concentrations were 0.17± 0.06 mg/kg (Hg), 0.02±0.01 mg/kg (Cd) and 0.04±0.05 mg/kg (Pb).

Fruits and seeds of Indian Gooseberry (Phylanthus emblica, S. Nelli) were investigated to evaluate their antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the estimation of peroxide values (PV) of shark liver oil, treated with fruit and seed extracts incubated at 60 0 C for a period of nine days. Seed extracts showed higher antioxidant activity than fruit extracts. The ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the fruit and all extracts of the seed were found to have higher antioxidant activity than the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT).

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In 2010, samples of muscles, liver and gills of Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) were collected from eighteen reservoirs of four districts in Sri Lanka: Anuradapuraya, Polonnaruwa (North Central Province), Hambantota (Southern Province) and Ampara (Eastern Province). Cd, Pb and Hg were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean Cd, Pb and Hg concentrations in muscle were 0.03 mg/kg, 0.06 mg/kg and 0.26 mg/kg, respectively, while gills contained 0.02 mg/kg, 0.44 mg/kg and 0.36 mg/kg, respectively, on a dry weight basis. The amounts of the three metals in liver were 0.30 mg/kg, 2.07 mg/kg and 0.52 mg/kg on a dry weight basis. The results revealed that the level of heavy metal concentration in Tilapia does not exceed the maximum limit for human consumption according to the European Union and Sri Lankan guidelines.

Lipid levels and fatty acid profiles in the flesh of wild caught and cultured Penaeus monodon were analyzed using, gas chromatography. The mean percentage lipid level of cultured P. monodon (3.9% ± 0 2 dry weight) was not significantly higher than that of the wild caught P. monodon (3.7% ± 0.1). The fatty acid profiles of wild caught and cultured shrimp were found to be significantly different from each other. The predominant fatty acids found in the flesh of both groups were Palmitic acid (16:0), Stearic acid (18:0), Oleic acid (18: ln-9), Vaccenic acid (18: ln-7), Linoleic acid (18:2n­6), Arachidonic acid-Omega-6 (20:4n-6), Eicosapentaenoic acid-Omega-3 (20:5n-3), and Docosahexaenoic acid-Omega-3 (22:6n-3). Total saturated fatty acids (38.12% ± 1.59) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (18.31% ± 1.57) contents were not significantly different in wild caught and reared P. monodon while monounsaturated fatty acid levels (44.82% ± 1.41) were significantly higher in wild caught P. monodon. Palmitoleic (C16:1), Heptadecenoic (C17:1), Myristoleic (C14:1), Vaccenic (C18: 1n-7), Hexadecatetaenoic (C16:4n-3), Alpha linoleic Omega-3 (C18:23n-3), Stearidonic (C18:4n-3), Docosatetraenoic (C22:4n-6), Docosapentaenoic (C22:5n-6) and Arachidonic Omega-6 (20:4n-6) contents were significantly high in wild caught shrimp, while Linoleic Omega-6 (18:2n-6) and Docosahexaenoic Omega-3 (22:6n-3) were significantly high in cultured shrimp.