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Upper aerodigestive cancer risk and alcohol

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Upper aerodigestive tract cancers (combined) - cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, and oesophagus separately

oral cavity and pharynx

  • consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally associated with risk of cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx (combined). Increasing alcohol consumption increases risk in a dose-dependent manner. Statistically significant increased risks were observed at low, medium and high levels of alcohol intake

  • consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally associated with the risk of cancer of the oral cavity. Statistically significant increased risks were consistently observed at high alcohol intakes (>50 g ethanol/day), but findings were more variable at medium and low intakes

  • consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally associated with the risk of cancer of the pharynx. Statistically significant increased risks were consistently observed at high alcohol intakes (>50 g ethanol/day), but findings were more variable at medium and low intakes.

laryngeal cancer

  • consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally associated with risk of laryngeal cancer

  • statistically significant increased risks were consistently observed at medium and high (>12.5 g ethanol/day) but not low alcohol intakes.

Oesophageal cancer

  • consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally associated with risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oesophagus. Increasing alcohol consumption 14 increases risk in a dose-dependent manner. Statistically significant increased risks were observed at low, medium and high alcohol intakes

  • consumption of alcoholic beverages is not associated with adenocarcinoma (AC) of the oesophagus

Notes:

Typical Alcohol by Volume (ABV) (%)

Typical volume of a drink (mL)

Ethanol content (g)

UK units of alcohol

Beer

4.5

568 (pint)

20

2.5

Wine

13

175 (glass)

18

2.3

Spirits

40

20 (single)

8

1

Reference:

  • Public Health England (2015). Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) Statement 2015/S2 - Statement on consumption of alcoholic beverages and risk of cancer.

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