Overview

• A University of Louisville–led study published in Toxicological Sciences shows that mice co-exposed to alcohol and PFOS accumulate significantly more liver fat and damage markers, with 60% of PFOS concentrated in the liver.
• Researchers found that PFOS disrupts hepatic fat metabolism, impairs protective and repair systems, and activates pathways linked to oxidative stress and cancer.
• Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate PFAS appear in about 95% of Americans, while the World Health Organization attributes nearly 3 million global deaths and 95,000 U.S. deaths annually to alcohol.
• Only around 35% of heavy drinkers develop severe liver disease, suggesting environmental exposures like PFOS play a critical role in individual susceptibility.
• Teams are expanding research to other PFAS compounds, examining sex differences and long-term outcomes, exploring targeted therapies and recommending public health measures to reduce PFAS exposure.