Common Household Chemical Linked to โLiver Damage, Cancer Risk
Washington D.C. – November 9, 2025 โ- โฃBeyond the well-documented risks ofโฃ alcohol, a ubiquitous chemical found in many household cleaning products and personal care items is now underโค scrutiny for its potential to cause meaningful liver damage and even cancer, according to a growing body of researchโค presented at โthe โคannual โmeeting โฃof โthe American Association โคfor the Study ofโค Liver Diseases thisโฃ week. The chemical,1,4-dioxane,is a likely human carcinogen and poses a threat even at low levels of exposure.
While โคfrequently enough not listed as anโ ingredient on product labels – as โit’s typically a byproduct of manufacturing processes – 1,4-dioxane โคis commonlyโ found in โขdetergents,shampoos,body washes,and cosmetics. the Environmental Protectionโ agency (EPA) classifies it as a probableโ human carcinogen, based on โstudies showing increased tumorโข incidence in animals. Prolonged exposureโฃ can led to liver and kidneyโ damage, and recent studies suggest a link โto increased risk of nasal and liver cancers. Millions of Americansโข are potentially exposed daily through routine use ofโฃ these products, raising concerns โคabout long-term health consequences.
The chemical’s persistence in the surroundings and its ability to easily contaminate groundwater further complicates theโ issue. Unlike many other pollutants, 1,4-dioxane doesn’tโ readily break down in nature, โmeaning itโ canโข accumulate โin drinking โฃwater โคsupplies. Several states,includingโ California and New York,are already grappling wiht widespread 1,4-dioxane contamination in their water systems,prompting callsโ for stricter regulations and increased monitoring.
“The challenge is that 1,4-dioxane isn’t intentionally added to these โขproducts, it’s created during the manufacturing of certain ingredients,”โ explainsโข Dr. Emily Carter, a toxicologist at the National Institutes โof Health. “This makes itโ difficult to eliminate entirely, but manufacturers can take steps to reduce โขits presence.”
Consumerโ advocacy groups โคare urging manufacturers โขto โadopt alternative manufacturing processes and increase clarity regarding 1,4-dioxane โlevels โคin their products. The Environmental โขWorking Group (EWG) has โคreleased a databaseโฃ of products containing the chemical, allowing โconsumers to make informed choices. The EPA is currently โreviewing its risk assessment for 1,4-dioxane and is expected to propose new regulations in 2026. Until โคthen, experts recommend checking product labelsโ for ingredients like polyethylene glycol (PEG), which are often associated with 1,4-dioxane โคcontamination, and opting for products certified by autonomous organizations that screen for harmful chemicals.
