**New Research Links Common Household Chemical to Severe Liver Damage**
A chemical found in dry cleaning solutions and household items significantly increases the risk of severe liver damage, according to recent research from Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).
**The Chemical: Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)**
Known as PCE, tetrachloroethylene appears in products such as craft adhesives, stain removers, and stainless steel polish. The study, published in *Liver International*, indicates that exposure to PCE triples the risk of developing significant liver fibrosis—a dangerous buildup of scar tissue in the liver that can lead to liver cancer, organ failure, or death.
**Study Findings and Implications**
The research found that people exposed to PCE face three times the risk of developing severe liver fibrosis compared to those without exposure. Importantly, each one nanogram per milliliter increase in blood PCE levels was associated with a fivefold increase in the odds of significant liver fibrosis.
Liver fibrosis is a serious concern because it can progress silently until it causes critical health issues. According to Keck Medicine, this study is the first to examine the relationship between human PCE levels and significant liver fibrosis. It highlights how environmental factors may play a previously underreported role in liver health.
**Research Methodology**
Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2017 and 2020. Their findings revealed that approximately 7% of the U.S. population had detectable PCE in their blood.
**Sources of PCE Exposure**
Individuals can inhale PCE off-gassed from dry-cleaned clothes or ingest it via contaminated water. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies PCE as a probable carcinogen linked to bladder cancer and lymphoma. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a 10-year phaseout of PCE in dry cleaning operations, the chemical remains in use in other applications.
**Expert Insight**
Dr. Brian P. Lee, a hepatologist with Keck Medicine and the study’s lead author, remarked, “Patients will ask, how can I have liver disease if I don’t drink and I don’t have any of the health conditions typically associated with liver disease, and the answer may be PCE exposure.”
**Conclusion**
This research highlights the importance of understanding environmental exposures in liver health. It also underscores the need for continued regulation and awareness regarding chemicals like PCE that are prevalent in everyday products.
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https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/11/pce-chemical-tetrachloroethylene-linked-liver-cancer-study/