Researcher Found Synthetic Chemicals Liked to Liver Cancer
Researchers from the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine found evidence that PFOS appears to alter the normal process of glucose metabolism, bile acid metabolism and the metabolism of a type of amino acid called branched chain amino acids in the liver.
Figure 1: New synthetic forever chemical linked to liver cancer found.
Figure 1 shows thatthe chemical, called perfluooctane sulfate or PFOS, is one of a class of man-made chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
These chemicals are also called forever chemicals because they break down very slowly and accumulate in the environment and human tissue, including the liver. [1]
The study concludes that PFOS can disrupt the metabolic process in the liver which affects the process of glucose metabolism, bile acid metabolism and branched chain amino acids.
Abnormal metabolic processes in the liver can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the study says, which has become concerning as cases of NAFLD have increased across the world in recent years.
While past studies have indicated how harmful these chemicals can be to animals, researchers of this study say the new evidence from human samples is a step forward to understanding the graver consequences of exposure to PFAS.[2]
"Liver cancer is one of the most serious endpoints in liver disease and this is the first study in humans to show that PFAS are associated with this disease," she added.
The team involved 50 participants who developed liver cancer, evaluated their blood samples taken prior to their cancer diagnosis and compared it with 50 people who did not develop cancer from the same study.
Researchers found several types of PFOS in the blood samples that were taken before the participant developed liver cancer. The participants in the top 10 per cent of PFOS exposure were 4.5 times more likely to develop liver cancer than those with the lowest levels of PFOS in their blood. [3]
References:
- https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=988263
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/exposure-to-synthetic-forever-chemical-linked-to-liver-cancer-study-finds-1.6020929
- https://www.ibtimes.co.in/synthetic-forever-chemical-pfos-linked-liver-cancer-details-851243
Cite this article:
Sri Vasagi K (2022), Researcher Found Synthetic Chemicals Liked to Liver Cancer, Anatechmaz, pp. 387