Raising Awareness About the Impacts of Squalene on the Well-Being of Individuals, Societies &amp; the Environment!

Alexa Osterman

doi:10.33137/jaste.v11i1.34251

Abstract

Before humans inserted themselves into the aquatic food chain, sharks were at the top maintaining balance and playing a crucial role on this earth. For hundreds of millions of years (even before the dinosaurs!) sharks have been shaping our underwater ecosystem and creating a foundation for life in all parts of the sea. Now with 95% of shark populations decreasing everywhere our health and the planet's health is at major risk. Shark livers contain an oil so hydrating and rich all cosmetic that companies want to get their hands on it. This simple substance, also known as squalene, is found all around the world in the form of cosmetics (lotions, anti-wrinkle creams, sunscreen, foundations) and daily off the shelf supplements. With the serious lack of education about what’s in our cosmetics, it makes it scary to think that almost all of us have been absentmindedly plastering on prehistoric predators on our body in the name of beauty.

Highlights

Squalene is an organic molecule that consists of 30 Carbons and 50 Hydrogens, scientifically named 2,6,10,15,19,23- Hexamethyl tetracosane (PubChem, n.d.)
It was surprising to see that there were a couple people who were between the ages of [20-30] as well as 40+
Gathering information from different age groups was difficult yet beneficial because it's always good to have different opinions, especially since some people have had more life experience and have seen more trends that have happened within society

Summary

Introduction

Squalene is an organic molecule that consists of 30 Carbons and 50 Hydrogens, scientifically named 2,6,10,15,19,23- Hexamethyl tetracosane (PubChem, n.d.). The questions ranged from asking about age to how well respondents know what’s in their cosmetic products. By gathering information from those who are 40+ it would have been interesting to see if they have used products such as Estee Lauder, Dove, and L’Oreal before they stopped using squalene in 2008.

Results

Conclusion