A new study has found that certain man-made chemicals, known as PFAS, may greatly increase the risk of liver disease in teenagers.
These chemicals, often called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily, are found in many common products like nonstick pans, water-repellent clothes, food packaging, and some cleaning supplies.
The research was led by the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program (ShARP) and the University of Hawai‘i.
It shows that teens exposed to higher levels of PFAS could be up to three times more likely to develop a liver condition called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD. This disease was once called fatty liver disease.
The study was published in the journal Environmental Research. MASLD is a long-lasting condition that causes fat to build up in the liver. It affects around 10% of all children and up to 40% of children who are overweight.
It can go unnoticed for years because it does not always cause clear symptoms. But over time, it can lead to serious health problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver damage, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer.
Dr. Lida Chatzi, who helped lead the study, said that MASLD can begin quietly during the teenage years. Once it starts, it can lead to lifelong health problems. She believes that reducing PFAS exposure early in life may help prevent liver disease later on.
PFAS are used in many household products, and they can stay in the body for a long time. Almost everyone in the U.S. has some PFAS in their blood, and about half of the country’s drinking water contains at least one type of PFAS.
Dr. Shiwen Li, the study’s first author, pointed out that teenagers are especially at risk. This is because adolescence is a time of major physical changes and development. In addition to liver disease, PFAS have also been linked to different kinds of cancer and other health problems.
The study looked at 284 teenagers and young adults in Southern California. These young people were already at higher risk for health issues because their parents were overweight or had type 2 diabetes. Blood tests were used to measure PFAS levels, and MRIs were used to check the amount of fat in their livers.
The researchers found that higher levels of two common types of PFAS—PFOA and PFHpA—were connected to a higher chance of having MASLD. Teens with twice the amount of PFOA in their blood were nearly three times more likely to have this liver disease.
The risk was even higher if the person had a certain gene (called PNPLA3 GG) that makes it easier for fat to build up in the liver. For young adults who smoked, the effects of PFAS on the liver were even stronger.
Dr. Max Aung, another researcher, said that the study shows how chemicals, genes, and lifestyle choices all combine to affect a person’s health. This understanding could help doctors create better, more personalized ways to prevent and treat liver disease.
Dr. Li said this is the first study to look at PFAS and liver disease in teens using the most accurate medical methods. It is also the first to explore how genes and behaviors like smoking may increase the effects of PFAS.
The study found that MASLD became more common as teens got older, which may mean that puberty and early adulthood are times when the body is more sensitive to harmful chemicals.
The results match earlier findings from USC that showed PFHpA was linked to worse liver disease in teens who had weight-loss surgery. Those teens had more liver inflammation and scarring.
Dr. Chatzi said both studies show that PFAS can do real damage to the liver in young people. Because the liver is still developing during the teen years, avoiding PFAS exposure during this time may be especially important.
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