Very Hot Beverages May Cause Esophageal Cancer

The working group found no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee or maté causes cancer. However, the scientists did conclude from their studies that drinking very hot beverages of almost any type probably causes cancer of the esophagus in humans. Consequently, their results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one possible cause of esophageal cancer. They concluded that drinking very hot beverages should be classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. The investigators were very clear that the evidence suggested that "very hot" temperatures were responsible for this probable carcinogenic effect. The scientists were specific about the temperature required to cause this effect; it was determined that beverage temperature of 65 C (or about 149 degrees Fahrenheit) or above was required for the effect. Experiments involving animals showed "limited evidence" that even very hot water was responsible for the carcinogenicity. Furthermore, the majority of esophageal cancers that occur in Asia, South America, and East Africa may be linked to the consumption of drinking very hot beverages since drinking them very hot temperatures (about 70 C) is a common practice. However, in the U.S. and Europe, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other beverages are commonly consumed at temperatures below 65 C. The 65 C temperature is hot enough to cause burns on the tongue.