A new study has found that people may be unknowingly exposed to a chemical in cleaning products that significantly raises their risk of developing liver fibrosis — a potentially fatal condition.
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California analyzed blood samples from 1,614 adults collected between 2017 and 2020 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
They discovered that about 7% of participants had detectable levels of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) — a chemical commonly used in adhesives, spot cleaners, and stainless steel polish.
According to the study, individuals with traces of PCE in their blood were three times more likely to have signs of liver fibrosis compared to those without exposure.
Liver fibrosis occurs when scar tissue builds up in the liver, restricting blood flow and oxygen, which can eventually lead to liver cancer, liver failure, or death if untreated.
Dr. Brian P. Lee, the study’s lead author and a hepatologist, said the team was surprised by how widespread PCE exposure was and how strong its link to liver scarring appeared.
“People might be exposed even if they don’t work directly with PCE,” he said, noting that dry cleaning services are a potential source.
The study also found that individuals from higher-income households had a higher likelihood of exposure — possibly due to greater use of dry cleaning.
Interestingly, traditional liver risk factors such as alcohol use and obesity did not appear to play a major role among participants with detectable PCE, suggesting the chemical itself may be a hidden contributor to liver disease.
