A study published in Liver International by researchers at Keck Medicine of USC has found a significant association between exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a chemical commonly used in dry cleaning and various consumer products, and an increased risk of liver fibrosis. The research indicates that individuals with detectable levels of PCE in their blood are three times more likely to have significant liver fibrosis compared to those without such exposure. Furthermore, the likelihood of liver fibrosis increases with higher concentrations of PCE in the blood, with a five-fold increase in odds for every one nanogram per milliliter rise in PCE levels.

The study, which analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2020, also revealed an unexpected socioeconomic pattern: individuals from higher-income households were more likely to have been exposed to PCE, potentially due to greater use of dry cleaning services. Importantly, the researchers noted that traditional risk factors such as alcohol consumption and liver fat accumulation did not account for the increased incidence of liver fibrosis among those with PCE exposure. This suggests that environmental factors like PCE may play a role in cases of liver disease that are otherwise unexplained. The authors emphasize the need for further research into the effects of environmental toxins on liver health and advocate for increased screening of individuals with potential PCE exposure to facilitate earlier detection and management of liver fibrosis. Source

This is a summary. Read the original at sciencedaily.com.