Khaberni - A new scientific study has found a worrying link between the chemicals used in dry cleaning and an increased risk of liver disease, where the risk could reach three times higher.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Southern California, found that "perchloroethylene" (PCE), widely used in dry cleaning and degreasing operations in the industry, is associated with a significant increase in the risk of liver cirrhosis, which is a major indicator of mortality linked to liver diseases.
The research team analyzed health data from 1,614 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States between 2017 and 2020, tracking levels of "perchloroethylene" (PCE) in participants' blood and linking it to cases of liver damage. The results revealed that 81 participants had detectable levels of this toxic substance, and those exposed were three times more likely to suffer significant liver damage.
Dr. Brian Lee, a liver transplant specialist and the lead author of the study, explained: "The more liver cirrhosis a person has, the higher the likelihood of their death from liver diseases. Our study shows a clear dose effect, where each one nanogram increase per milliliter in the PCE concentration in the blood raises the risk of liver scarring by five times."
It is believed that the mechanism lies in that the by-products of PCE metabolism interact with liver cells, leading to the breakdown of fat in the cell membrane and triggering a series of inflammatory and scarring reactions.
This discovery comes at a time when liver diseases are experiencing a significant rise globally, no longer limited to the elderly and alcoholics, but also rapidly spreading among young people and children.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a directive in 2024 that restricts the use of PCE with a phase-out over ten years after classifying it as a "probable human carcinogen". However, the current study reveals that the risk is not limited to direct exposure through clothes cleaned dry, but also extends to environmental pollution through air and water.
Dr. Lee concluded with an important recommendation: "Doctors should investigate patients' environmental history, and policymakers should enact legislation to protect the public from these environmental toxins."
