Dry cleaning chemical causers liver damage

A common household chemical is an unexpected cause of liver disease.

Scientists had thought liver disease was caused by one of just three factors: excessive alcohol use, the buildup of fat in the liver, or viral infections such as hepatitis B and C.

But now they’ve added a fourth: the chemical tetrachloroethylene (PCE), which is in adhesive glues, spot removers, and stainless-steel polish.  It’s also the main chemical used in dry cleaning.

People who are often exposed to PCE are up to three times more likely to suffer from serious liver damage, and especially liver fibrosis, a condition where scar tissue builds up in the liver. Over time, this scarring can progress to liver cancer, liver failure, or even death, say scientists at the University of Southern California.

PCE is a man-made, colorless liquid widely used to remove grease in industrial and household settings, including dry cleaning. People are exposed to the chemical through the air when it slowly evaporates from recently dry-cleaned clothes, and it can also enter drinking water when spills or improper disposal contaminate soil and groundwater.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies PCE as a probable carcinogen, and it has been linked to bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The US’s Environmental Protection Agency has initiated a 10-year phaseout of PCE in dry cleaning and placed restrictions on its use in other industries. Still, the chemical persists in certain products and remains unregulated in some countries.

The researchers had analysed blood samples from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found that about 7 percent of people had detectable levels of PCE.

People with higher incomes were among those with the most PCE in their bodies, probably because they used dry cleaning services more often.

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