Study Links Ubiquitous Chemical to Liver Damage

A manufactured set of chemicals — polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — are found in a large group of industrial products, including non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing. Recently, a study linked them to human liver damage and possible disease.

The systematic review conducted by USC and Yale scientists found consistent evidence that PFAS were associated with liver damage and fatty liver disease.

Lida Chatzi, MD, PhD, and professor of population health at USC’s Keck School led the study. “PFAS are ubiquitous, and we know that all adults in the US have detectable levels of PFAS in their bodies,” Chatzi said. “There is growing interest in the long-term health effects of PFAS exposure, and this study supports that there is evidence that PFAS are associated with liver injury.”

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a biomarker associated with liver damage, was noticeably elevated when PFAS were present; these same biomarkers are elevated in people who suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study also commented that, by 2030, one-third of US adults are likely to have developed NAFLD.

PFAS have a history of possible health effects, and some studies have linked them to reproductive health side effects. In 2021, one study analyzed epidemiological studies that linked PFAS with lower testosterone. The same analysis proposed evidence for PFAS as endocrine disruptors. In women, the effects on reproductive health were less pronounced; however, studies have indicated that long-term PFAS exposure is associated with reduced fetal health and even preterm birth.

Using biomonitoring, researchers have been able to evaluate the prevalence of other damaging chemicals in the bodies of humans. Acrylamide is another example of a harmful chemical included in many manufactured products, and it is often present in the human body.

Scientists are exploring the detrimental effects of chemicals like PFAS and acrylamide by measuring biomarkers in the human body and finding associations between them and poor health outcomes.

Scientific studies also utilize biomonitoring to assist researchers with public health investigations and the creation of environmental regulations. The widespread analysis of biomarkers in urine or blood is essential to providing a baseline understanding of environmental chemicals like PFAS.

Public health studies like these promote health equity by supporting communities that may be unaware of their background chemical exposure. Additionally, biomonitoring studies contribute to expedited disease diagnosis and empower communities to address environmental issues that may affect their locality’s health status. In most cases, environmental chemical burdens fall on those least able to deal with them, so robust biomonitoring systems are influential supporters of equity in these communities.

Biomonitoring is currently being studied as a way to assist scientists with cancer detection. This type of diagnostic test allows doctors to identify the type of cancer present precisely, and it helps in treatment recommendations for individual patients. In some cases, effective biomonitoring can even detect the possible warning signs of certain cancers before a patient is diagnosed.