♻ 2025A study found that a chemical used in dry cleaning is associated with a threefold increased risk of liver scarring.

What it means

This refers to a study reporting that perchloroethylene (also known as tetrachloroethylene), a common solvent used in dry cleaning, is associated with a threefold increased risk of developing liver scarring (hepatic fibrosis). The finding suggests a stronger link between this chemical and liver damage than previously documented, although the underlying mechanism is not specified in the headline.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on a peer-reviewed study reported by Science Daily, a reputable science news outlet. The reporting likely sits close to the original research paper, but the exact journal or institution is not mentioned in the highlight, so the precision of the risk estimate (triple) should be considered as reported by the secondary source.

How new

The underlying study dates from 2025 and is only now being newly reported (September 2026), so this is a resurfacing of older material rather than a genuinely new finding.

Go deeper

• Science Daily article