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Abstract

Winter air pollution in Kabul, Afghanistan, is a significant environmental and public health concern, largely driven by household reliance on solid fuels for heating in rapidly urbanizing areas such as District 12. This study aimed to evaluate household fuel consumption patterns, examine public awareness of air pollution, and assess environmental behaviours contributing to winter air quality degradation. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured 30-item questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, fuel use, awareness, and environmental practices; data were collected from 350 households and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations between sociodemographic factors and air pollution knowledge and behaviors. Coal (55.7%) and firewood (20.3%) were the primary household fuels, with increased usage during winter. Most respondents reported awareness of air pollution and its health impacts; however, knowledge of monitoring systems, pollution sources, and mitigation strategies remained limited, and adoption of cleaner energy alternatives was low. Education level was significantly associated with both air pollution knowledge and environmental behavior (p < 0.001), whereas household income was not significantly associated with these outcomes. The findings demonstrate a gap between awareness and environmental practices, influenced by financial constraints, limited access to clean energy, and increased winter heating demand; targeted interventions are needed to promote affordable renewable energy options, enhance public environmental education, and strengthen institutional engagement.

Keywords: Household fuel consumption, winter air pollution, Solid fuels, Coal and firewood, Public awareness, Environmental behavior, Urban air quality