Do Some Industries Pollute Less In Cities?

In the game *Cities: Skylines*, players are tasked with managing pollution levels. While it's impossible to completely avoid pollution without using DLC buildings or special mods, certain types of industries cause less pollution than others. For example, the specialised industries of farming and forestry don't cause pollution (at least within the game). By switching all industrial areas to one of these two specialties, players can keep up with the demand for industry zoning without sacrificing the environment.

Farming and forestry industries don't cause pollution

In the game Cities: Skylines, players can unlock the ability to create districts and assign them specialised industries. Two of these industries, farming and forestry, don't cause pollution. However, some farm buildings do produce pollution, so it's important to keep residential areas away from them.

In real life, the agricultural sector is one of the primary sources of environmental pollution. Pollution of the soil and water has historically harmed food safety, posing a serious hazard to human health. Pesticides and fertilisers used on crops fed to animals are a major contributor to land pollution. The high concentration of livestock in factory farms inevitably results in a build-up of animal waste.

Upgraded industry buildings produce less pollution

However, it's impossible to completely avoid pollution without using DLC buildings or special mods. That said, the right policies and building choices can keep pollution to a minimum. For example, creating a forest buffer zone around industry districts can help to reduce noise pollution.

Players can also keep pollution low by mixing specialised and generic industries. One player reported that a 50:50 ratio worked well for them, while another suggested that a 1:1 ratio of specialised to generic industry might be more effective.

Noise pollution affects all industries

In the game *Cities: Skylines*, players can unlock the ability to create districts and assign them specialised industries, such as farming and forestry, which don't cause pollution. However, noise pollution is a major concern in industrial settings, affecting nearly 30 million people in the United States alone. Noise pollution is commonly generated inside industrial facilities and other workplaces, but it also comes from road, rail, and air traffic, as well as construction activities. It can have a range of negative effects on human health, including hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress. It can also impact the health and well-being of wildlife, causing caterpillars' dorsal vessels to beat faster and bluebirds to have fewer chicks.

Generic industry creates more soil pollution

In the game *Cities: Skylines*, players must manage pollution levels. While it's impossible to completely avoid pollution without using DLC buildings or special mods, the right policies and building choices can keep pollution to a minimum.

One player noted that they mixed specialised and generic industries 50:50, which kept soil pollution low overall. Another player suggested that specialised industries only need to be about 25% of generic industries, so a 1:1 ratio could work.

In real life, industries are believed to be one of the leading causes of soil pollution due to the improper management and disposal of toxic waste.

Specialised industry is preferable to generic industry

In *Cities: Skylines*, specialised industry is preferable to generic industry as it produces less pollution. Two specialised industries, farming and forestry, don't cause pollution. However, this is not the case with the farming and forest buildings in the Industries DLC, which do produce pollution.

Upgraded industry buildings tend to produce less pollution than the level one versions. Players can also create a forest buffer zone around industry districts to reduce noise pollution.

One player found that mixing specialised and generic industries 50:50 kept soil pollution low overall. Another player suggested that each specialised industry only needs to be about 25% of generic industry, so the final ratio is 1:1.

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