Long term effects of the slow but surely increasing toxicity is pretty serious too. We are all contributing to this, and suffering too, in an inevitable cycle. Air pollution, not surprisingly, affects the respiratory system. Diseases like chronic bronchitis and primary lung cancer are suspected to be related to long term inhalation of polluted air. Unfortunately, mankind's industrial progress has not been very beneficial to the other lives that share the planet with him.
Plants are very sensitive to sulphur dioxide, fluorine compounds, smog etc.
Spotting and burning of leaves, destruction of crops, and retarded growth of plants have been observed. Flourides are very toxic to animals. Cattle suffer by eating foliage contaminated with fluorides. Buildings get grimy. Your white clothes don't remain white if you travel in open vehicles in any Indian metro.