Cancer risk from drinking water that is too hot

A recent announcement by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) said that consuming drinks at temperatures above 65 degrees Celsius can cause esophageal cancer.

According to CNN, the conclusion was made after IARC analyzed studies from many countries that often drink tea and coffee hotter than 70 degrees Celsius such as Iran, China, South America...

The team analyzed more than 1,000 studies on the carcinogenic properties of coffee and South American herbal drinks, the two beverages that are considered the most carcinogenic. However, the team asserted that there was enough evidence to prove that coffee did not cause any carcinogenic effects, but when consumed at temperatures higher than 65 degrees Celsius, it caused esophageal cancer.

Drinking coffee at temperatures higher than 65 degrees Celsius can cause esophageal cancer. Photo: Mrwallpaper.

Specifically, drinking tea, coffee or other beverages at this temperature is enough to burn the tongue, cause skin burns, and cause serious scalds in the esophagus when you drink, increasing the risk of cancer in this organ.

"These results suggest that consumption of very hot drinks is a possible cause of oesophageal cancer, rather than the drinks themselves," said Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC. This means that drinking them at low, normal or lukewarm temperatures is unlikely to cause cancer.

Accordingly, Mr. Bill Murray, President of the National Coffee Association of America, also affirmed that this research is good news for coffee drinkers because in 1991, coffee was listed as a "substance that can cause cancer in humans".

Esophageal cancer is one of the eight most common cancers worldwide, causing 400,000 deaths in 2012, accounting for 5% of all cancer deaths. Although smoking and alcohol consumption are the main causes of esophageal cancer, especially in developed countries, the majority of cases occur in Asia, South America and East Africa.

According to Zing.vn