Question

Why are some aromatic compounds carcinogenic?

Answer 1

Aromatic compounds are frequently carcinogenic because their physical molecular structures frequently contain five and six carbon rings.

Explanation:

These five and six carbon rings are hydrophobic - that is, they can usually diffuse easily across hydrophobic cell membranes where they can further affect cells biologic function.

Once inside cells these flat, platelike five/six carbon ring structures 'intercalate' or get between the bases in nucleotides in DNA, or they get mistaken for nucleotides and mis-incorporated into DNA. These problems with DNA fidelity introduces mutations; most of these mutations are silent, but eventually a gain or loss of function mutation produces cancer.