Key Takeaways

A chemical used in dry cleaning and consumer products is linked to liver disease

People exposed to tetrachloroethylene had a tripled risk of liver scarring

Their risk grew alongside their exposure

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Liver disease is usually caused by alcohol , fat buildup or hepatitis B and C.

But a widely used chemical might also contribute to liver scarring, researchers recently reported in the journal Liver International .

Exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) might triple the risk of significant liver fibrosis — an excessive amount of liver scarring that can lead to cancer, organ failure or death, researchers said.

The more exposure people had to PCE, the more likely they were to suffer from excessive liver scarring, results showed.

PCE

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