Little-known ‘Forever Chemical’ PFHpA Worsens Liver Disease in Teens
Researchers found that the lesser-known PFAS chemical perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) is linked to increased risk and severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obese adolescents, raising urgency for broader PFAS regulation. Lab tests on 3D liver models confirmed PFHpA triggers inflammation and fat buildup, suggesting a mechanism for worsened liver health in exposed teens.
A team led by the Keck School of Medicine of USC identified perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), a little-known PFAS chemical, as a significant risk factor for worsening MASLD in obese adolescents. Analysis of blood from 137 teens in the Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery showed those with double the PFHpA had an 80% higher chance of MASLD diagnosis, including advanced forms with inflammation and fibrosis—precursors to cirrhosis or liver cancer. The researchers used 3D liver spheroids exposed to real-world PFAS doses, which exhibited inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted lipid metabolism, mirroring patient liver damage. This translational framework bridges epidemiological data and cellular mechanisms, highlighting that emerging PFAS like PFHpA are not less harmful than well-known ones such as PFOA or PFOS. Given that nearly half of U.S. water systems contain detectable PFAS and that MASLD affects up to a third of obese children, these findings underscore the urgent need for regulating PFAS as a class. Ongoing efforts at the USC ShARP Center aim to reduce exposure through better treatment technologies and research, ultimately protecting vulnerable populations from PFAS-induced liver disease progression starting in adolescence.
