Common, Largely Overlooked Chemical Linked to Liver Damage

Most consumers have heard that lead in children’s toys and other products can cause problems with brain development, lower IQ, and other devastating injuries. Still others also have heard about the tragic health effects of the plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to sexual dysfunction and genital deformities in adults and children alike.

But a lesser known and widely used chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is making headlines today, after a new study found the synthetic chemical may damage the liver.

PFOA is ubiquitous in the environment and used in the form of substances called fluoropolymers, which make products fire-resistant and help carpets and cookware repel grease, according to a Reuters news report. The chemical is often found in trace amounts as impurities in non-stick cookware and other Teflon-coated products, posing a risk of injury to people, officials say.

Emerging research finds that PFOA is found in the environment and at low levels in most people’s blood without causing problems. However, just like lead and BPA, it is feared that if ingested through contaminated water, food, and other items and allowed to accumulate in the body for many years, PFOA could reach dangerous levels.

Laboratory testing of PFOA in animals has found exposure to the chemical can result in developmental problems, liver damage, and other health problems. However, other studies have found no such evidence of liver damage to people exposed to PFOA.

A new study conducted by researchers in Taiwan examined a possible link between PFOA concentrations in the blood and liver enzyme levels. They found that among 2,200 U.S. adults, liver enzymes generally increased slowly along with elevating PFOA levels. Obese people were particularly at risk, the study found.

Increased liver enzymes in the blood can be a sign of liver damage, such as that caused by hepatitis and cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, the study said. However, the increased liver enzymes in the study did not rise to levels high enough to be solid evidence of liver damage, although more study is needed.

No related posts.