Researchers studied the effect of man-made chemicals on the livers of sheep.

January 18, 2019

3 Min Read
Environmental chemicals cause 'worrying' changes to sheep livers
University of Aberdeen

Exposure to manmade chemicals found all around us has caused "worrying" changes in sheep livers, according to the researchers behind a new study led by the University of Aberdeen in the U.K.

The liver, as part of the body’s sophisticated natural defences, can break down many chemicals. The environment contains large numbers of chemicals that have made their way into the food chain, and these include many manmade chemicals, such as plasticisers, pharmaceuticals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), that do not break down easily, the announcement from Aberdeen said.

This is particularly problematic because the liver not only protects the body against toxins but also fine-tunes how mammalian bodies work, for example, playing a role in making or burning fat.

The study, published in Environment International, looked at the livers of sheep that were raised in an environment with sewage sludge fertilizer containing potentially harmful chemicals at levels commonly found in the everyday environment.

The universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh in the U.K. as well as the James Hutton Institute in the U.K. and the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in France contributed to the study.

The animals were exposed to chemicals used according to agricultural guidelines, throughout their lives, starting even before conception and continuing right into early adulthood, the announcement said.

The study found that the livers of the sheep exposed to the fertilizer showed abnormalities. Furthermore, the livers of ewes and rams were influenced by exposure in a different manner. For instance, the exposed ewes had altered amounts of fats in their livers, whereas indications for cancer predisposition were noted in the livers of the exposed rams.

The researchers said the results are worrying because, if translated to humans, they would suggest that chronic exposure to an environment polluted with chemicals will eventually harm the liver, potentiality contributing to liver-related diseases.

“A well-functioning liver is important for health and development. Therefore, risks to the liver such as chemical exposures need to be better understood. Liver-related diseases are highly prevalent in the population, with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affecting over 20% of people. Liver cancer is among the most common causes of cancer death. Unfortunately, the incidences of liver-related diseases are rising, and we need to understand if these kinds of chemicals are contributing to liver disease," University of Aberdeen professor Paul Fowler said.

Dr. Panagiotis Filis, a post-doctoral scientist at the University of Aberdeen and first author of the project, added, “Our study provides additional evidence for the damaging effects of environmental chemicals in our bodies. The fact that a number of different effects were noted in the exposed animals when they were still only young adults is worrying.

Source: University of Aberdeen, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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