Scalding Sips Linked to Tripled Esophageal Cancer Risk, UK Study Finds
A UK study of nearly 980,000 adults followed for over a decade found that drinking beverages at very hot temperatures nearly triples the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with six or more hot drinks daily raising risk by about 71%. The risk rises with hotter temperatures and higher frequency, but the association was not seen with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Heat exposure to the esophagus is the suspected mechanism, not tea or coffee itself, and limiting beverage temperature could reduce SCC cases.