Prenatal exposure to synthetic antioxidants and plasticizers and spontaneous preterm birth: Preliminary exploration of mixed effects and EGFR-linked molecular responses

Synthetic antioxidants and plasticizers have emerged as environmental contaminants to which prenatal exposure is widespread, raising concerns about adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to a mixture of synthetic antioxidants and plasticizers and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPB), alongside underlying molecular responses. A nested case-control design was established, including 80 SPB cases and 170 matched healthy controls. Significant positive associations were observed between serum concentrations of AO4703, BHT-CHO, DBF, TBC, 2,4-DtBP, and 4-tOP and SPB risk. Mixed-effect models revealed that co-exposure to 14 frequently detected chemicals (>60 % detection rate) jointly elevated SPB risk, with 2,4-DtBP identified as the predominant contributor. Toxicogenomic bioinformatics analysis highlighted epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a potential molecular target for SPB induced by prenatal exposure to synthetic antioxidants and plasticizers. Activation of the EGFR-mediated PI3K-Akt signaling pathway could disrupt placental cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, thereby promoting the onset of SPB. This pathway may constitute a crucial molecular mechanism driving chemical-induced SPB. This pilot study establishes a foundation for large-scale investigations into prenatal exposure to emerging chemicals and SPB risk, and offers preliminary insights into potential molecular mechanisms of mixture effects. Future validation through larger cohorts and in vitro and in vivo experiments will be critical.