Common dry-cleaning chemical linked to triple the risk of liver scarring

A chemical commonly used in dry cleaning and found in some household products may be an overlooked threat to liver health. Researchers found that people with detectable levels of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in their blood were three times more likely to have significant liver fibrosis, a dangerous buildup of scar tissue that can eventually lead to liver failure or cancer.

The risk climbed sharply as PCE levels increased, even after accounting for factors such as age, sex, race, education, alcohol use, and metabolic conditions.