Science Discovers That Hot Drinks Cause Cancer

June 22, 2016

The latest news of normal things discovered to cause cancer deals a huge blow to coffee and tea drinkers alike.

A recent study by the International Agency for Research and Cancer found that drinking beverages above 149 degrees Fahrenheit, or 65 degrees celsius, increases the risk of esophageal cancer, the eighth most common cause of cancer in the world, because the hot liquid may burn soft tissues in the throat and damage cells.

Very hot beverages are now classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” IARC Director Dr. Christopher Wild added:

“These results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one probable cause of oesophageal cancer and that it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible.”

This could potentially be a huge blow to coffee drinkers in the West and tea drinkers throughout Asia, though it could also be an easy fix to just let hot beverages cool before drinking.

While it’s unknown whether it’s a contributing factor or not, 3 million people in China died of cancer while 4 million people were diagnosed in 2015.

h/t: Shanghaiist

Share this Article