Spotlight How vinyl chloride, chemical released in the Ohio train derailment, can damage the liver From the 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow series Juliane I. Beier, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Pittsburgh Feb 18, 2023 Feb 18, 2023 Updated Jan 20, 2026 0 × How the liver works. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save An illustration of a human liver with cirrhosis. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo LibrarykAm':?J= 49=@C:56 – E96 496>:42= :? D6G6C2= @7 E96 EC2:? 42CD E92E 56C2:=65 2?5 3FC?65 :? t2DE !2=6DE:?6[ ~9:@[ :? u63CF2CJ a_ab – 42? HC62< 92G@4 @? E96 9F>2? =:G6C]k^AmkAmxE 92D 366? D9@H? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__a^96A]abba`QmE@ 42FD6 =:G6C 42?46Ck^2m[ 2D H6== 2D 2 ?@?>2=:8?2?E =:G6C 5:D62D6 <?@H? 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^_`haeabb`acegd`fQm%p$w[ @C E@I:42?E\2DD@4:2E65 DE62E@96A2E:E:Dk^2m] (:E9 %p$w[ E96 =:G6CD @7 @E96CH:D6 962=E9J A6@A=6 42? 56G6=@A E96 D2>6 72E 244F>F=2E:@?[ :?7=2>>2E:@? 2?5 D42CC:?8 W7:3C@D:D 2?5 4:CC9@D:DX 2D A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 4:CC9@D:D 7C@> 2=4@9@= @C @36D:EJ]k^Am People are also reading… Boone Tederman beats leukemia to help Gothenburg earn first state berth since 2017 Price's Rentals will offer free rides for workers to North Platte beginning Monday Lutheran Family Services in Nebraska receives $1.1M gift to help support former Tyson employees from Lexington 2 arrested after Lexington police carry out arrest warrants Gothenburg student receives Nebraska Wheat Growers Association scholarship 6 Overton athletes sign college letters of intent Gothenburg man charged with third-degree sexual assault of a child GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL: Gothenburg erases 16-point deficit to beat Ogallala 70-63 Six people on Tyson's departure, their upended lives and a changing town Nebraska farmers fret about fertilizer costs as Iran war disrupts production Nebraska World War II veteran becomes oldest organ donor Tickets on sale now for the Cattlemen's Ball June 5-6 Kenneth Walker, Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins among top NFL free agents Nebraska driver's licenses, ID cards get new look J-2 Hydrocycling period starts early due to whooping crane presence kAm%92E <:?5 @7 52>286 EJA:42==J C6BF:C6D C6=2E:G6=J 9:89 =6G6=D @7 G:?J= 49=@C:56 6IA@DFC6 – E96 <:?5 2? :?5FDEC:2= H@C<6C >:89E 6IA6C:6?46 @? E96 ;@3]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ 6IA@DFC6D E@ =@H6C 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?46?EC2E:@?D 2C6 DE:== 2 4@?46C?] %92E’D :? A2CE 3642FD6 =:EE=6 :D <?@H? 23@FE E96 :>A24E =@H\=6G6= 6IA@DFC6 >:89E 92G6 @? =:G6C 962=E9[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C A6@A=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]2AD3]a_a`]_h]__dQmH:E9 F?56C=J:?8 =:G6C 5:D62D6k^2m 2?5 @E96C C:D<D]k^AmkAmpD 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AF3>65]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^nE6C>l36:6CTarZy:Qm2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@Ck^2m @7 >65:4:?6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 2?5 @44FA2E:@?2= 962=E9[ x DEF5J E96 :>A24E @7 G:?J= 49=@C:56 6IA@DFC6 @? E96 =:G6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`d`d^9DK\a_`f\_bacQmA2CE:4F=2C=J @? 9@H :E >2J 27764Ek^2m A6@A=6 H:E9 F?56C=J:?8 =:G6C 5:D62D6] #646?E 7:?5:?8D 92G6 492?865 @FC F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 E96 C:D<]k^Am k9am{6DD@?D 7C@> ‘#F336CE@H?’k^9amkAm':?J= 49=@C:56 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42?46C]8@G^23@FE\42?46C^42FD6D\AC6G6?E:@?^C:D<^DF3DE2?46D^G:?J=\49=@C:56QmFD65 E@ AC@5F46 !'rk^2m[ 2 92C5 A=2DE:4 FD65 7@C A:A6D[ 2D H6== 2D :? D@>6 A24<28:?8[ 4@2E:?8D 2?5 H:C6D]k^AmkAmxED 962=E9 C:D<D H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^abbgeagcQm5:D4@G6C65 :? E96 `hf_Dk^2m 2E 2 q]u] v@@5C:49 724E@CJ :? E96 #F336CE@H? ?6:893@C9@@5 @7 {@F:DG:==6[ z6?EF4<J] u@FC H@C<6CD :?G@=G65 :? E96 A@=J>6C:K2E:@? AC@46DD 7@C AC@5F4:?8 A@=JG:?J= 49=@C:56 E96C6 6249 56G6=@A65 2?8:@D2C4@>2 @7 E96 =:G6C[ 2? 6IEC6>6=J C2C6 EJA6 @7 EF>@C]k^Am kAm%96:C 42D6D 3642>6 2>@?8 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^abbgeagcQmD6?E:?6= 6G6?EDk^2m :? E96 9:DE@CJ @7 @44FA2E:@?2= >65:4:?6 2?5 =65 E@ E96 H@C=5H:56 C64@8?:E:@? @7 G:?J= 49=@C:56 2D 2 42C4:?@86?]k^Am kAm%96 =:G6C :D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE2?7@C549:=5C6?D]@C8^6?^E@A:4^5672F=En:5l9@H\E96\=:G6C\H@C<D\h_\!_a__eQm3@5J’D 7:=E6Ck^2m 7@C C6>@G:?8 E@I:42?ED 7C@> E96 3=@@5] $A64:2=:K65 46==D <?@H? 2D 96A2E@4JE6D 96=A C65F46 E96 E@I:4:EJ @7 5CF8D[ 2=4@9@=[ 42776:?6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 496>:42=D 2?5 E96? D6?5 2H2J E96 H2DE6 E@ 36 6I4C6E65]k^Am kAm%96 92==>2C< @7 G:?J= 49=@C:56 6IA@DFC6 E@ E96 =:G6C :D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^_`haeabb`acegd`fQmA2C25@I:42= 4@>3:?2E:@?k^2m @7 ?@C>2= =:G6C 7F?4E:@? E6DED 2?5 E96 AC6D6?46 @7 72E :? E96 =:G6C 2?5 E96 562E9 @7 96A2E:4 46==D[ H9:49 >2<6 FA E96 3F=< @7 E96 =:G6C’D >2DD] w@H6G6C[ E96 56E2:=65 >6492?:D>D E92E =625 E@ G:?J= 49=@C:56\:?5F465 =:G6C 5:D62D6 2C6 DE:== =2C86=J F?<?@H?]k^Am kAm#646?E C6D62C49 92D 56>@?DEC2E65 E92E 6IA@DFC6 E@ G:?J= 49=@C:56[ 6G6? 2E =6G6=D 36=@H E96 7656C2= =:>:ED 7@C D276EJ[ 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]2AD3]a_a`]_h]__aQm6?92?46 =:G6C 5:D62D6k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__a^96Ac]``d`Qm42FD65 3Jk^2m 2 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_a`^24D]496>C6DE@I]g3___cbQm(6DE6C? 5:6Ek^2m” – @?6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_hb^E@ID4:^<7KabeQmC:49 :? 72Ek^2m 2?5 DF82C] %9:D AC6G:@FD=J F?:56?E:7:65 :?E6C24E:@? 36EH66? G:?J= 49=@C:56 2?5 F?56C=J:?8 72EEJ =:G6C 5:D62D6D C2:D6D 4@?46C?D E92E E96 C:D< 7C@> =@H6C G:?J= 49=@C:56 6IA@DFC6D >2J 36 F?56C6DE:>2E65]k^Am k9am~FE5@@C 6IA@DFC6 2?5 E96 C:D< 7C@> H6==Dk^9amkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2ED5C]454]8@G^E@IAC@7:=6D^EAa_]A57Qmx? @FE5@@C 2:Ck^2m[ G:?J= 49=@C:56 364@>6D 5:=FE65 72:C=J BF:4<=J] $F?=:89E 2=D@ 3C62<D :E 5@H?[ EJA:42==J :? ?:?6 E@ `` 52JD] %96C67@C6[ @FE5@@C 2:C 6IA@DFC6 :D =:<6=J ?@E 2 AC@3=6> 6I46AE H:E9 :?E6?D6 A6C:@5D @7 6IA@DFC6[ DF49 2D :>>65:2E6=J 7@==@H:?8 2 C6=62D6 @7 G:?J= 49=@C:56] x7 E96C6 :D 2 496>:42= D>6==[ @C J@F 766= :E49J @C 5:D@C:6?E2E65[ =62G6 E96 2C62 2?5 D66< >65:42= 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am kAm':?J= 49=@C:56 2=D@ 5:DA6CD6D :? H2E6C] %96 7656C2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6A2]8@G^68^E@I:4\2?5\AC:@C:EJ\A@==FE2?ED\F?56C\4=62?\H2E6C\24EQmr=62? (2E6C p4Ek^2m C6BF:C6D >@?:E@C:?8 2?5 C6>@G:?8 G@=2E:=6 @C82?:4 4@>A@F?5D DF49 2D G:?J= 49=@C:56 7C@> >F?:4:A2= H2E6C DFAA=:6D[ D@ E9@D6 D9@F=5?’E 36 2 4@?46C?]k^Am kAmw@H6G6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGlr_'3`r>%hg4QmAC:G2E6 H6==Dk^2m 4@F=5 364@>6 4@?E2>:?2E65 :7 G:?J= 49=@C:56 6?E6CD E96 8C@F?5H2E6C] !C:G2E6 H6==D 2C6 ?@E C68F=2E65 3J E96 r=62? (2E6C p4E 2?5 2C6 ?@E FDF2==J >@?:E@C65]k^Am kAm':?J= 49=@C:56 C625:=J G@=2E:=:K6D :?E@ E96 2:C 7C@> H2E6C[ 2?5 :E 42? 244F>F=2E6 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2ED5C]454]8@G^E@I8F:56D^E@I8F:56\a_]A57Qm6?4=@D65 DA246Dk^2m =@42E65 23@G6 4@?E2>:?2E65 8C@F?5H2E6C] %9:D :D 6DA64:2==J 2 4@?46C? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_g_^`_cfbagh]`hh`]`_ceegccQm:7 E96 H2E6C :D 962E65k^2m[ DF49 2D 7@C D9@H6CD @C 5FC:?8 4@@<:?8] ':?J= 49=@C:56 82D :? 6?4=@D65 DA246D 42? E96C67@C6 244F>F=2E6] %9:D 67764E :D D:>:=2C E@ C646?E 4@?46C?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bbh_^:;6CA9a__`__fdQm23@FE 7F>6D 7C@> ?2EFC2= 82D DE@G6Dk^2m :? A@@C=J G6?E:=2E65 9@>6D]k^Am kAmp=E9@F89 E96C6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@D92]8@G^=2HD\C68D^C68F=2E:@?D^DE2?52C5?F>36C^`h`_^`h`_]`_`fQm6DE23=:D965 D276EJ =6G6=Dk^2m 7@C 24FE6 2?5 :?E6C>65:2E6 6IA@DFC6[ DF49 =6G6=D 5@?’E 6I:DE 7@C 49C@?:4 6IA@DFC6D[ D@ E6DE:?8 @G6C E:>6 :D :>A@CE2?E]k^AmkAm(92E 42? 36 5@?6n p?J@?6 H:E9 2 AC:G2E6 H6== E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6DA@?D6]6A2]8@G^D:E6^D:E60AC@7:=6]2DAInD:E60:5l`dhbbQm>2J 92G6 366? 6IA@D65k^2m E@ G:?J= 49=@C:56 D9@F=5 92G6 E96 H6== k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2ED5C]454]8@G^E@I8F:56D^E@I8F:56\a_]A57Qm>@?:E@C65 2?5 E6DE65k^2m >@C6 E92? @?46] !6@A=6 42? 2:C @FE E96:C 9@>6D 2?5 2C6 6?4@FC2865 E@ D66< >65:42= 96=A :7 E96J 6IA6C:6?46 5:KK:?6DD @C :E49:?8 6J6D]k^Am kAm000k^Am kAmk6>myF=:2?6 x] q6:6C C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6D @7 w62=E9]k^6>mk^AmkAmk6>m000k^6>mk^Am In this Series 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow Updated Aug 22, 2023 Lost touch with someone? Reach out – your friend will likely appreciate it more than you think Updated May 30, 2023 More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues Updated Aug 22, 2023 US abortion restrictions are unlikely to influence international trends, which are largely becoming more liberal 167 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story What does the liver do? - Emma Bryce How the liver works. Photos: A look at the aftermath of the Ohio train derailment