Do Carcinogens Cause Mutations?

Carcinogenic substances can cause cancer in the following different ways: By directly damaging the DNA in cells leading to mutations (disrupting the normal process of cells)

Do carcinogens cause mutations in genes?

What specifically causes mutations to happen one after another in these genes is largely unknown. Mutations can be caused by things in the environment known to increase the risk for cancer (carcinogens). The development of mutations is also a natural part of aging.

How are carcinogens related to mutations?

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are clearly correlated. One study showed that 157 of 175 known carcinogens (approximately 90 percent) are also mutagens. The somatic mutation theory of cancer holds that these agents cause cancer by inducing the mutation of somatic cells.