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Dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) are two typical non-volatile disinfection by-products (DBPs) found in drinking water. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that they show reproductive toxicity. However, whether they might have endocrine disrupting properties remains largely unknown. To discover this, we treated male mice or pregnant mice with 0, 1-, 102-, 103-, 104-, or 5 × 104-fold maximal concentration level (MCL) of DCAA or TCAA in drinking water. In male mice, the levels of testosterone in serum and androgen receptor (AR) in testis were declined with ≥ 103-fold MCL of DCAA (26.4 mg/kg/d) or TCAA (52.7 mg/kg/d). In pregnant mice, miscarriage rates were increased with ≥ 104-fold MCL of DCAA (264 mg/kg/d) or ≥ 103-fold MCL of TCAA. The levels of FSH in serum were increased and those of estradiol and progesterone were reduced with ≥ 103-fold MCL of DCAA or TCAA. The protein levels of estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in ovary were reduced with ≥ 102-fold MCL of DCAA (2.64 mg/kg/d) or TCAA (5.27 mg/kg/d). Exposure to some certain fold MCL of DCAA or TCAA also altered the protein levels of ERα and ERβ in uterus and placenta. Exposure to 5 × 104-fold MCL of both DCAA and TCAA showed the combined effects. Therefore, both DCAA and TCAA could be considered as novel reproductive endocrine disrupting chemicals, which might be helpful for further assessment of the toxicological effects of DCAA and TCAA and the awareness of reproductive endocrine disrupting properties caused by DCAA and TCAA in drinking water. [Display omitted] • DCAA and TCAA function as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. • DCAA and TCAA reduce the levels of testosterone in serum and androgen receptor (AR) in testis of male mice. • DCAA and TCAA induce pregnant mouse miscarriage. • DCAA and TCAA increase follicle stimulating hormone levels and reduce estradiol and progesterone levels in serum of pregnant mice. • DCAA and TCAA reduce the levels of estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in ovaries, uterus, and placenta of pregnant mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BaP/BPDE exposure up-regulated free Fe2+ level and accelerated lipid peroxidation. Meanwhile, BaP/BPDE exposure also up-regulated MARCHF1 protein level, promoted its mediated ubiquitination degradation of GPX4, and hence decreased GPX4 protein level. Both pathways led to ferroptosis and further suppressed angiogenesis, which possibly induced miscarriage. Supplement with Gpx4 could efficiently suppress ferroptosis and recover angiogenesis in BPDE-exposed HUVECs and also alleviate miscarriage in BaP-exposed mouse miscarriage model. This study discovered novel toxicological effects and their underlying mechanisms that BaP/BPDE exposure induced ferroptosis, suppressed angiogenesis, and eventually induced miscarriage, as well as provided a promising approach to predict and treat against miscarriage. [Display omitted] • BPDE promoted HUVEC ferroptosis and suppressed angiogenesis by down-regulating GPX4 level. • BPDE promoted MARCHF1-mediated ubiquitination degradation of GPX4. • High level of BPDE-DNA adduct, ferroptosis, and defective angiogenesis in decidual tissues were associated with miscarriage. • Supplement with GPX4 suppressed ferroptosis, recovered angiogenesis, and alleviated miscarriage in BaP-exposed mouse model. • The levels of free Fe2+ and VEGFA in serum might reflect the risk of miscarriage. Environmental benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and its ultimate metabolite BPDE (benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide) are universal and inevitable persistent organic pollutants and endocrine disrupting chemicals. Angiogenesis in placental decidua plays a pivotal role in healthy pregnancy. Ferroptosis is a newly identified and iron-dependent cell death mode. However, till now, BaP/BPDE exposure, ferroptosis, defective angiogenesis, and miscarriage have never been correlated; and their regulatory mechanisms have been rarely explored. In this study, we used assays with BPDE-exposed HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells), decidual tissues and serum samples collected from unexplained recurrent miscarriage and their matched healthy control groups, and placental tissues of BaP-exposed mouse miscarriage model. We found that BaP/BPDE exposure caused ferroptosis and then directly suppressed angiogenesis and eventually induced miscarriage. In mechanism, BaP/BPDE exposure up-regulated free Fe2+ level and promoted lipid peroxidation and also up-regulated MARCHF1 (a novel E3 ligase of GPX4) level to promote the ubiquitination degradation of GPX4, both of which resulted in HUVEC ferroptosis. Furthermore, we also found that GPX4 protein down-regulated the protein levels of VEGFA and ANG-1, two key proteins function for angiogenesis, and thus suppressed HUVEC angiogenesis. In turn, supplement with GPX4 could suppress ferroptosis, recover angiogenesis, and alleviate miscarriage. Moreover, the levels of free Fe2+ and VEGFA in serum might predict the risk of miscarriage. Overall, this study uncovered the crosstalk among BaP/BPDE exposure, ferroptosis, angiogenesis, and miscarriage, discovering novel toxicological effects of BaP/BPDE on human reproductive health. This study also warned the public to avoid exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during pregnancy to effectively prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]