User:Abdiel Kavash/Pollution
Many machines in GregTech generate pollution while running. If left unchecked, pollution can cause various negative effects, such as affecting players with debuffs, destroying plant life, or even damaging blocks. Fortunately, pollution dissipates over time, and there are several machines that can clean up pollution at a much faster rate.
Basics
Pollution is a chunk-based effect. Every Minecraft chunk has an associated pollution amount, measured in units called gibbl. This means that every block in the same chunk is affected by pollution equally, and it does not matter where in the chunk pollution-generating machines are. Specifically, there is no difference between having your machines out in an open field, or hidden in a closed-off cave. They will all contribute to the pollution in their chunk in the same way.
If pollution in a chunk becomes too high, it will slowly spread to the four adjacent chunks. Pollution also slowly dissipates over time by itself.
Generating Pollution
The most common sources of pollution are running machines. Machines which cause pollution usually display the generated amount in their tooltip:
Note, however, that some machines do not list the amount this way; and for some machines the amount of pollution generated is not a fixed value, but depends on the settings or process that is currently being run. As a safe rule of thumb, if a multiblock includes a muffler hatch, it will cause some pollution.
Machines only generate pollution while running. Overclocking a machine to make it run faster does not cause the machine to produce more pollution.
Machine explosions (due to overvolting, fire, or otherwise) generate a huge amount of pollution (hundreds of thousands or even millions of gibbl.) Rocket launches also cause a large amount of pollution, see the tooltip of the rocket for details.
Measuring Pollution
Pollution can be measured by a Pollution Detection Device, which can be crafted in LV tier. Right-click the device and it will output the amount of pollution in the current chunk in the in-game chat.
This device can also output a redstone signal when the amount of pollution exceeds some specified value. Right-click the front face of the device to configure the threshold. Clicking on the left half of the face (with a - sign) lowers the threshold, clicking the right half (with a + sign) increases it. Click the top half of the face to modify the threshold by 5,000; click the bottom half to modify it by 50,000. You can use this to automatically turn off your heavily polluting machinery, or to sound an alarm.
You can also connect this device to a Nuclear Control Information Panel using the GregTech Sensor Kit.
Pollution Effects
Players in a chunk with high levels of pollution will be affected by various negative debuffs, unless they are wearing a full set of armor that provides hazmat protection. These debuffs linger over time, even after the player leaves a polluted chunk.