A recent study found a link between exposure to chemicals and liver damage, along with a potential risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. According to the American newspaper "The Hill," scientists concluded that long-term exposure to chemical compounds, also known as "PER-" or "PFAS," is associated with elevated levels of a liver enzyme called "ALT," which serves as a biomarker for liver damage.
The authors compiled results from over 100 studies conducted on humans and rodents, finding that three of the most common types of chemical compounds among humans (PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA) are all linked to increased liver enzyme levels. Lida Shatz, a professor of population science and public health at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, stated: "There is growing interest in the long-term health impacts of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)."
PFAS are found in firefighting foam, various household products such as non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, and cosmetics. Previously, scientists identified a "potential link" between these chemical compounds and increased cholesterol levels, colitis, thyroid diseases, and kidney cancer. Shatz noted: "Our study is the first of its kind to establish this link between PFAS and liver damage... Additionally, there is also a potential association of these substances with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease."
This type of chemical has always been the subject of research and studies due to its slow degradation and tendency to accumulate in the environment and human tissues, including the liver.
