Background This study comprehensively analyzed the basic conditions and influencing factors of the residents' environmental health literacy (EHL) level in Shaanxi Province, China in 2020, and provided a scientific basis for exploring new ideas and new methods to improve the EHL level of the whole people. Methods In the cross-sectional study with a multi-stage random sampling method, 1320 participants were recruited in 6 neighborhood committees (administrative villages) from the Shaanxi province of China between 15–69 years old. The Core Questions for Assessment of EHL of Chinese Citizens (Trial Implementation) was adopted to measure the EHL of the respondents. Results The survey showed the level of EHL of residents is 17.6% in Shaanxi in 2020. Among them, the basic concepts, basic knowledge, and basic skills classification literacy levels are 34.7%, 6.89%, and 37.95% respectively. The EHL ratio of rural residents is significantly lower than that of urban residents (12.38 vs. 29.02%). A noticeable difference was shown in various aspects and environmental health issues of EHL between urban and rural populations. Conclusions Many factors are affecting the level of EHL. Education and science popularization of basic environmental and health knowledge in key areas and populations should be strengthened, and behavioral interventions should be carried out according to the characteristics of the population.

Analysis of human living environmental quality of Shenyang-Dalian urban agglomerations has important theoretical and practical significance in rapid development region. A lot of investigations have been carried for Shenyang-Dalian urban agglomerations, including 38 counties. Based on the carrying capacity of resources, natural and socioeconomic environmental factors and regional changes of human living environmental evaluation are analyzed with the application of geographic information systems (GIS) software. By using principal component analysis (PCA) model and natural breaks classification (NBC) method, the evaluation results are divided into five categories. The results show that the human living environmental evaluation (HLEE) indexes of Dalian, Shenyang, and Liaoyang are higher than other counties. Among these counties, the human living environmental evaluation (HLEE) indexes of coastal counties are significantly higher than inland counties. The range of the human living environmental evaluation index in most of the study area is at III, IV, and V levels, accounting for 80.01%. Based on these results, it could illustrate the human living environment is in relatively suitable condition in Shenyang-Dalian urban agglomeration.

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Fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) has been demonstrated by previous studies to be associated with cell damage. To explore the impact of the composition of PM2.5 on PM2.5-mediated inflammation, this study investigated the composition of PM2.5 collected during the wintertime indoor heating season and observed its inflammatory effect. Samples were collected during the heating season from December 5, 2017, to January 8, 2018, in Xi’an. Compositions of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water-soluble ions were analysed. Two representative samples (sample 1 and 2) were selected with significant differences in compositions. They were configured into four concentrations (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, 20 μg/mL) and used as interventions on RAW264.7 cells for 4 h and 24 h separately. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8. Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) gene and protein expression levels were detected by real-time quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The results showed that the cell viability of sample 1 intervened cells at 4 h and 24 h was lower than that of sample 2. IL-1β gene in most PM2.5 intervention groups was lower than in the control group. Protein expression was higher at 4 h than at 24 h. In conclusion, PM2.5 components influence cell viability and expression of IL-1β and TNF-α, while high concentrations of NO3−, Cl−, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and others in the PM2.5 composition have a significant harmful effect.

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