Study finds common dry-cleaning solvent triples risk of serious liver scarring
Researchers discovered that detectable levels of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in blood are associated with a threefold increase in significant liver fibrosis.
In a cross-sectional study published in Liver International, scientists from Keck Medicine of USC examined blood samples from the 2017-2020 NHANES survey and identified tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in roughly 7% of participants. Presence of the solvent correlated with a threefold higher odds of significant liver fibrosis, a condition that can progress to liver failure or cancer. The association persisted after controlling for traditional risk factors such as alcohol consumption, obesity-related fat buildup, and metabolic disease.
Moreover, each nanogram per milliliter increase in PCE concentration amplified the odds of fibrosis fivefold. The researchers noted that higher-income individuals, likely frequent users of dry-cleaning services, showed greater exposure, while workers in dry-cleaning facilities may face occupational risks. Although causality was not proven, the findings highlight environmental chemicals as a potentially overlooked contributor to liver disease.
Why it matters
The link between a widely used dry-cleaning solvent and severe liver scarring suggests a hidden public-health risk that may require new exposure guidelines.
In this story
