Which of the following best defines reproductive toxicity?

Reproductive toxicity specifically refers to the adverse effects that certain substances can have on reproductive health, influencing both fertility and the ability to produce offspring. This encompasses a range of potential impacts, such as diminished fertility in males and females, developmental issues in embryos and fetuses, and complications during pregnancy. Understanding reproductive toxicity is critical in the field of pesticide application, as it helps ensure that products do not negatively affect human health and the reproductive capabilities of wildlife.

The other choices, while related to toxicity, address different aspects that do not directly define reproductive toxicity. For instance, the ability to cause genetic mutations pertains to mutagenicity, which focuses on changes to the genetic material rather than effects on reproduction per se. Toxicity affecting growth and development relates more broadly to developmental toxicity and cannot be equated with reproductive toxicity, which is more focused on the reproductive system itself. Lastly, fire hazards in chemical substances are unrelated to reproductive issues, as they deal with the physical dangers of chemical substances rather than their biological effects on reproduction.