Toxic compounds can have deleterious reproductive and developmental effects on animals and aquatic ecosystems. Organochlorine pesticides such as TCDD and dioxin act as endocrine-disrupters and contribute to the widespread phenomenon of spermatogenesis, or a lack of reproductive functioning, in frogs. Acute or chronic exposures to these substances can have dramatic and detrimental effects on human health and the environment. Probably the most recognized health hazards are respiratory effects due to inhalation exposures in urban settings. This is due to the chemical properties of respirability, irritancy, and skin antigenicity exhibited by air toxics.
Recent literature suggests a possible connection between air toxics and the exacerbation of asthma.
Although only shown scientifically in occupational studies of exposed workers, there does exist the potential for air toxics to affect asthma progression. Nonetheless, HAP's can also cause cancer, neurological, cardiovascular and reproductive effects, kidney malfunctions and skin rashes. Particular groups of people, such as the elderly, children and pregnant woman are most susceptible to the hazards associated with air toxics. Currently, actual adverse health effects associated with toxics are extrapolated from animal toxicology and occupational studies. Although occupational studies offer scientists and public health officials solid analyses of dose-response and potential causal relationships between chemicals and diseases, little is known about the risk from chemical releases in the environment.