Health
Dry-cleaning chemical exposure linked to elevated risk of liver scarring
ScienceDaily reports that detectable blood levels of tetrachloroethylene are associated with increased odds of significant liver fibrosis.
The short version
- A study from Keck Medicine of USC found individuals with detectable blood levels of tetrachloroethylene had three times the risk of significant liver fibrosis.[ScienceDaily]
- Data from 2017 to 2020 national health surveys revealed detectable chemical levels in approximately 7% of the population, with higher rates in wealthier households.[ScienceDaily]
- The research identified an association rather than direct causation, emphasizing the potential role of environmental contaminants in liver disease.[ScienceDaily]
Key facts
- Individuals with detectable levels of tetrachloroethylene in their blood exhibited three times the likelihood of significant liver fibrosis.[ScienceDaily]
- Each one nanogram per milliliter increase of the chemical in blood was associated with a five-fold increase in the odds of liver scarring.[ScienceDaily]
- Analysis of 2017 to 2020 NHANES survey data showed that about 7% of the population had detectable blood concentrations of the solvent.[ScienceDaily]
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is executing a 10-year phaseout of the chemical in commercial dry cleaning.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- The study design does not demonstrate that exposure to the chemical directly causes liver fibrosis.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Common dry-cleaning chemical linked to triple the risk of liver scarringScienceDaily - Health