Banned PCBs Are Still Causing Liver Disease Decades Later

PCBs were banned decades ago. But they're still in the environment, still in your body, and still destroying livers.

A Chemical That Won't Go Away

A 2026 review in Cells examines how polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contribute to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which affects 30-40% of the global population.

PCBs were used in electrical equipment, building materials, and industrial fluids until they were banned. But they persist in soil, water, and the food chain. They accumulate in your body's fat tissue for decades.

The Full Spectrum of Liver Damage

Animal studies and human data link PCB exposure to the complete progression of liver disease: fatty liver → steatohepatitis → fibrosis → cirrhosis → liver cancer (HCC). PCBs also alter liver enzymes and increase mortality in exposed populations.

They act as endocrine disruptors and combine with other risk factors (obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes) to accelerate liver damage.

Where PCB Exposure Still Comes From

Contaminated fish (especially from the Great Lakes and industrial waterways), old building materials, contaminated soil near former industrial sites, and animal fats in the diet. PCBs bioaccumulate up the food chain.

What You Can Do

Limit high-fat fish from contaminated waters. Trim fat from meat (PCBs concentrate in fat). Support liver health with a clean diet. And explore non-toxic home essentials to reduce other chemical burdens on your liver.

Also see non-toxic kitchen essentials for safer alternatives.

Source: Longo et al. (2026). Cells.