A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) has revealed that exposure to harmful 'forever chemicals' found in many everyday household items can increase your risk of developing liver cancer by as much as 350 per cent.

Known as perfluorooctanesulfonic acids (PFOS), these chemicals are found in items such as food containers, furniture, cleaning products and makeup. These items end up in landfill and the chemicals seep into groundwater supplies.

The chemicals take a very long time to break down, hence the 'forever' nickname and can build to dangerous levels inside the body.

"Liver cancer is one of the most serious endpoints in liver disease and this is the first study in humans to show that PFAS are associated with this disease," says Dr Jesse Goodrich co-author of the study.