cleaning chemical was linked to triple the risk of serious liver scarring, pointing to a hidden environmental cause of liver disease.
News
– University of Southern California – Health Sciences
– A chemical commonly used in dry cleaning and found in some household products may be an overlooked threat to liver health. Researchers found that people with detectable levels of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in their blood were three times more likely to have significant liver fibrosis, a dangerous buildup of scar tissue that can eventually lead to liver failure or cancer. The risk climbed sharply as PCE levels increased, even after accounting for factors such as age, sex, race, education, alcoho
Liver disease is most often associated with a handful of familiar causes. These include heavy alcohol use, fat accumulation in the liver connected to obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol, as well as infections with hepatitis B or C.
Details
But new research suggests that an environmental chemical may deserve more attention as another possible risk factor.
A study published in Liver International by researchers at Keck Medicine of USC found that exposure to tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as PCE, may be linked to serious liver damage. PCE is widely used in dry cleaning and can also be found in consumer products including arts and crafts adhesives, spot removers and stainless steel polish.
Researchers found that people exposed to PCE were three times more likely to have significant liver fibrosis. Fibrosis occurs when repeated injury causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. If that scarring becomes severe, it can interfere with the organ’s ability to function and may eventually contribute to liver failure, liver cancer or death.
Analysis
The findings also pointed to a clear exposure pattern. As the amount of PCE detected in a person’s blood increased, so did the likelihood of significant liver fibrosis.
“This study, the first to examine the association between PCE levels in humans and significant liver fibrosis, underscores the underreported role environmental factors may play in liver health,” said Brian P. Lee, MD, MAS, a hepatologist and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine and lead author of the study. “The findings suggest that exposure to PCE may be the reason why one person develops liver disease while someone with the exact same health and demographic profile does not.”
Where PCE exposure can happen
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