Hello, my name is Alisa Azzarelli, I am a Girl Scout of Suffolk County, and I was diagnosed with Mercury Poisoning in February of 2017. Like many others, I was unaware of the fact that the amount of mercury varies in different types of seafood, making it harmful to eat certain types of fish regularly and not in moderation. For example, it can be safe to eat some type of fish three times a week, such as shrimp or salmon, but seafood such as ahi tuna or swordsfish should only be eaten once or twice a month.

The symptoms of Mercury Poisoning can easily be hidden and misinterpreted as hormonal or stress related, and often go un-diagnosed and can lead to further and fatal health complications. With the popularity of eating seafood on Long Island increasing, it is important that people are rightfully informed of what they are consuming.

As a Girl Scout, I am passionate about helping others in my community. When thinking about what I wanted to do for my Gold Award project, which must serve the community in a sustainable way, I wanted to do something that would have a huge impact on people's lives. I felt that in sharing my story and providing people with the information they rightfully deserve, I could fulfill that goal.

This is why we have been working hard with Legislator Leslie Kennedy of Suffolk County as well as the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County to pass a bill that requires restaurants throughout the county to include a notice on their menus that seafood does contain mercury, and consuming too much can be harmful. With your support, we can successfully pass this Mercury Resolution and prevent others from health complications that are due to being uninformed about what they are consuming.

Contact me directly with any questions or concerns or to learn more: AlisaAzzarelli@gmail.com