Some poly nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are not carcinogenic in themselves. However, when these are made to interact with living cells, enzymes in the cells could convert the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon into a carcinogenic material such as benzo-[a]-pyrene. This can now interact adversely with the deoxyribonucleic acid of living cells leading to genetic mutation, that is, irreversible changes in the genes of organisms.
