{"id":227862,"date":"2026-01-06T13:12:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T23:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=227862"},"modified":"2026-01-06T14:52:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T00:52:53","slug":"forever-chemicals-in-adolescents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/01\/06\/forever-chemicals-in-adolescents\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Forever chemicals’ may triple risk of fatty liver disease in adolescents"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"teflon<\/p>\n

A study co-led by researchers at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa has found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS<\/abbr>)—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—may significantly increase the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD<\/abbr>) in adolescents. MASLD<\/abbr> affects about 10% of children and up to 40% of children with obesity and can increase long-term risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver cancer. <\/p>\n

The findings were published in Environmental Research<\/a><\/em> and is a collaboration with the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS<\/abbr> Assessment, Remediation and Prevention Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

PFAS<\/abbr> are synthetic chemicals used in nonstick cookware, stain- and water-repellent fabrics, food packaging and some cleaning products. They persist in the environment and accumulate in the body over time. More than 99% of people in the U.S.<\/abbr> have measurable PFAS<\/abbr> in their blood, and at least one PFAS<\/abbr> is present in roughly half of U.S.<\/abbr> drinking water supplies.<\/p>\n

“Adolescents are particularly more vulnerable to the health effects of PFAS<\/abbr> as it is a critical period of development and growth,” said assistant professor Shiwen “Sherlock” Li of UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa’s Department of Public Health Sciences in the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health<\/a>, who served as lead and corresponding author. “In addition to liver disease, PFAS<\/abbr> exposure has been associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, including several types of cancer.” (Related study<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Linking PFAS<\/abbr>, genetics and lifestyle<\/h2>\n

The research examined 284 adolescents and young adults in Southern California who were already at higher metabolic risk because their parents had type 2 diabetes or were overweight. PFAS<\/abbr> levels were measured through blood tests, and liver fat was assessed using MRI<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

Adolescents are particularly more vulnerable to the health effects of PFAS<\/abbr> as it is a critical period of development and growth.
—Shiwen Li<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Higher blood levels of two common PFAS<\/abbr> chemicals—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA<\/abbr>) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA<\/abbr>)—were linked to a greater likelihood of MASLD<\/abbr>. Adolescents with twice as much PFOA<\/abbr> in their blood were nearly three times more likely to have MASLD<\/abbr>. The risk was even higher for those with a genetic variant (PNPLA3 GG<\/abbr>) known to influence liver fat. In young adults, smoking further amplified PFAS<\/abbr>-related liver impacts.<\/p>\n

“MASLD<\/abbr> can progress silently for years before causing serious health problems,” said Lida Chatzi, professor of population and public health sciences and pediatrics and director of the USC Superfund Center<\/a>. “When liver fat starts accumulating in adolescence, it may set the stage for a lifetime of metabolic and liver health challenges. If we reduce PFAS<\/abbr> exposure early, we may help prevent liver disease later.”<\/p>\n

Li noted that this is the first study to examine PFAS<\/abbr> and MASLD<\/abbr> in children using gold-standard diagnostic criteria and to explore how genetic and lifestyle factors may interact with PFAS<\/abbr> exposure.<\/p>\n

Reducing exposure<\/h2>\n

Exposure to PFAS<\/abbr> can vary by location. Li recommends checking local Consumer Confidence Reports to see whether a water provider tests for PFAS<\/abbr>, and using a water filter if PFAS<\/abbr> are detected. Avoiding products or packaging made with PFAS<\/abbr> may also help reduce exposure. Given rising rates of MASLD<\/abbr> in young people worldwide, the researchers call for continued investigation and policies that reduce PFAS<\/abbr> use in consumer products.<\/p>\n

Other study partners also included the University of California Irvine, West Virginia University, Johns Hopkins University and Children\u2019s Hospital Los Angeles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new study reports adolescents with higher blood levels of PFAS<\/abbr> chemicals face a greater risk of fatty liver disease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":227872,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[165,1363,1314,241,449,158,73,596,9],"class_list":["post-227862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-health","tag-manoa-research","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-public-health","tag-public-health-sciences","tag-publication","tag-sustainability","tag-myron-b-thompson-school-of-social-work","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t