The identification of chemical carcinogens by an absorption spectrum associated with DNA base pairs.

A simple spectrophotometric technique for identifying carcinogens is described based on the observation that many known carcinogens and/or their metabolites exhibit maximal absorption in the 260-273nm range. This absorption spectrum of carcinogens falls between that of DNA base pairs. Carcinogens in the enol form may possess electromagnetic properties which disrupt the normal hydrogen-oxygen bonds between the base pairs, inducing uncontrollable mitosis.