Community experiences of marginalization and environmental hazards in District Kohat, Pakistan

Environmental hazards do not affect all communities equally; their effects are often shaped by social vulnerability, access to resources, and the ability to influence environmental decisions. This study explores how marginalized communities in District Kohat, Pakistan, experience and respond to environmental hazards associated with industrial and extractive activities. It examines how environmental burdens, social marginalization, institutional responses, participation, and community agency shape everyday experiences, with particular attention to residents of selected union councils and refugee camps. Grounded in Environmental Justice Theory, the study focuses on distributive, procedural, and recognitional dimensions of environmental injustice. A qualitative phenomenological design with an interpretive orientation was used, with 46 participants, (23 from union councils and 23 from refugee camps) selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings generated eight interrelated themes, highlighting everyday exposure to pollution, unsafe water, respiratory and livelihood concerns, institutional neglect, limited participation, social exclusion, community coping and agency, and aspirations for justice and locally meaningful solutions. The findings show that environmental risks in Kohat are socially structured and intensified by unequal access to resources, weak institutional support, and limited recognition and participation. The study contributes community-level evidence to Environmental Justice Theory by linking environmental exposure with marginalization, institutional response, participation, and agency. It recommends more inclusive environmental governance, improved basic infrastructure, and participatory monitoring to promote environmental justice and community resilience. Clinical trial registration Not applicable. This study was not a clinical trial.