The results were especially unexpected because polyethylene has traditionally been regarded as a relatively biologically inert material.
The researchers plan to investigate whether polyethylene exposure could contribute to more advanced forms of liver disease, including fibrosis.
Because it is commonly used in food packaging, plastic wraps, food storage containers and beverage cup linings, researchers wanted to determine whether this widely used plastic could contribute to liver disease and, if so, how it produced those effects.
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