The spatial distribution and seriousness of pine damages as well as the occurrence of two different kinds of damage mechanisms in southeastern Finland were estimated on the basis of chemical needle element analysis, visual pine damage classification, and needle reflection photography. The needle samples were collected in April, 1991 using 79 study areas. The areas were situated in back areas of southeastern Finland, (i.e. 5–10 km from the nearest urban area). The concentrations of boron, calcium, chlorine, magnesium, manganese, total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and sulphur in needles were analyzed using both the first and second needle year classes. According to visual pine damage classification, the most severe pine damages were located near emission sources and along a highway. The needle element results indicated most of the trees in our study areas had a potassium deficiency, which was causing nutrient imbalances and probably changes in nitrogen metabolism. There was an increased sulphur content in the needles of the severely damaged areas, especially in the older needles. The results of the field infrared photography indicated that the undamaged trees reflected more than the damaged ones as one sum vector between 750–840 nm.