The Q & A from About.com has a more logical explanation.Answer: Re-boiling clean uncontaminated drinking will water not cause cancer or any other health problems. However, boiling water contaminated with chemicals such as nitrates or toxic elements such as arsenic is a bad idea.
Ground water may contain nitrates, which are chemicals often found in fertilizer, and arsenic that may occur naturally or from farm or industrial waste. Nitrates, along with nitrites, are also found in processed meats.
Consuming water contaminated with nitrates can cause a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia and some research shows that nitrates in drinking water may be associated with some types of cancer. Exposure to arsenic may result in arsenic poisoning and increased risks of several types of cancer.
Nitrates and arsenic are not like bacteria, so boiling your water doesn't remove them. In fact, boiling water will actually increase the concentration. The more the water is boiled, the higher the concentration of these substances will be.
The levels of both nitrates and arsenic are regulated and water supplies must be monitored in towns and cities, so if your tap water comes from a city water source, it is safe. People who live in rural areas and have private wells must have their well water tested for nitrates and arsenic. If you have a private well and the levels of these contaminants are too high, you must install a water filtration system for your home.
"The moral of the story" here is always find out more from other sources whenever you receive any "questionable" information.
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