Industrial pollution is a big problem for forests. It affects air, soil, water, and the variety of plants and animals that live there. Here are some of the main ways pollution impacts forests:

Air Pollution

• Emissions: Factories let out harmful gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ). In Sweden, about 24% of all greenhouse gases come from industrial emissions.
• Acid Rain: These gases can cause acid rain, which makes soil more acidic and harms trees. In areas with a lot of pollution, rain can be as acidic as a pH of 4.0, which is not good for the forest.

Soil Degradation

• Heavy Metals: Industrial work can contaminate soil with dangerous metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. In places near factories, soil often has these metals at levels much higher than what is safe—sometimes over 200% more.
• Nutrient Loss: Pollution can harm the tiny living things in the soil that help it stay healthy. Toxic things in the soil can reduce the number of these important helpers by up to 50%, which means plants may not get the nutrients they need.

Water Pollution

• Runoff Effects: Water that flows off industrial sites can carry harmful chemicals into rivers and lakes. In many areas, around 70% of nearby water bodies have high levels of these toxic substances.
• Eutrophication: When industrial waste adds too many nutrients to water, it can cause overgrowth of algae, which use up oxygen. This leads to "dead zones" in the water where fish and other creatures can't survive. About 500 of these dead zones exist worldwide, often linked to industrial pollution.

Biodiversity Loss

• Species Vulnerability: Pollution can cause a drop in animal and plant species that are sensitive to changes. Research shows that in heavily polluted areas, the variety of life can drop by about 30%.
• Habitat Destruction: As the environment gets polluted, animals may leave their homes to escape it. This move can upset the balance of the whole ecosystem.

Climate Change Connection

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Activities from industries contribute a lot to climate change. Forests are crucial for storing carbon, but if they are damaged, they can start releasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) instead. This can amount to about 1.1 billion tons of CO₂ every year.

Conservation Efforts

To fight against industrial pollution, we need stronger laws, better pollution controls, and improved forest management. These efforts aim to help restore forests and keep our ecosystems healthy.