The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an entity under the World Health Organization, has announced that very hot beverages represent a probable cause of cancer. The study has been published in The Lancet Oncology journal.
This institution has concluded its evaluation of the carcinogenic potential of coffee, mate and other beverages that are usually drunk at high temperatures. The conclusion of this meta-analysis is clear: there is no conclusive -but probable- evidence of a carcinogenic effect from drinking coffee or the like. And the researchers did find that the consumption of very hot beverages “probably” causes cancer of the esophagus (the eighth most common cause of cancer worldwide) and a reduced risk of endometrial and liver cancer.
The work, carried out by a committee of 23 experts, states that very hot drinks are considered to be those that exceed 65º C. That is, drinking hot coffee or yerba mate would not be classified as carcinogenic to human beings, it only deserves Attention if it exceeds this temperature of 65º C.
“ Smoking and drinking alcohol are the leading causes of esophageal cancer, particularly in many developed countries . However, most esophageal cancers occur in parts of Asia, South America and East Africa, where very hot beverages are regularly drunk and the reasons for this high incidence are not well understood, ”explains Christopher Wild, Director of IARC .
Esophageal cancer accounts for 5% of all cancer deaths with approximately 400,000 deaths recorded in 2012.
