Pollution
Pollution is represented as an abstract "cloud", calculated per chunk and visible on the minimap and Map, when Alternative view is on (default Alt-Key).
It is produced by many buildings involved in processing items and spreads outwards at a steady rate.
Native life
- Pollution attracts Biters to your factory. Biters who find themselves in a polluted area will attempt to reach the source of pollution and destroy it.
- Enemies#Spawners absorb pollution, but this rises their evolution-factor.
Pollution dissipation
- slowly (0.6 units per tick) at every Chunk (32x32) of map it covers. So the more the pollution spreads, the more is absorbed.
- Trees also absorb some pollution.
- Enemies#Spawners absorb some pollution, but this will increase Difficulty#In freeplay, by rising the evolutionfactor.
- In Mods it is possible to build in also devices or trees, which reduce pollution.
Modules
Modules that list "+x% pollution" increase pollution multiplier, not a flat pollution rate. Final pollution value is (pollution multiplier * energy usage multiplier * base pollution), meaning heavily boosted buildings are likely to account for most of the pollution produced in a factory.