A new study found that a chemical often used in dry cleaning and household products may triple the risk of serious liver disease. Researchers discovered that tetrachloroethylene (PCE) — a solvent found in spot cleaners, adhesives, and metal polish — was strongly linked to liver fibrosis, a scarring condition that can lead to liver failure or cancer.
Scientists analyzed data from more than 1,600 U.S. adults and found that people with detectable levels of PCE in their blood were three times more likely to have liver fibrosis. The study also showed that higher exposure meant greater risk. Surprisingly, people from higher-income households were more likely to have PCE in their blood, likely because of frequent dry cleaning use. Unlike other causes of liver disease, such as alcohol or obesity, PCE itself appeared to play a major role in the damage.
PCE has been tied to brain, kidney, and developmental problems for years. The Environmental Protection Agency classified it as an “unreasonable risk” and proposed phasing it out over 10 years, though that plan is still under review. Experts warn that people can be exposed even if they don’t work with the chemical directly — through everyday cleaning products or dry-cleaned clothes. With liver disease rates on the rise, researchers say reducing exposure to chemicals like PCE could play an important role in prevention.
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