The effect of chloride on the atmospheric corrosion of cast iron in sulphur or nitrogen-bearing pollutant was investigated by using periodic wet-dry test, electrochemical experiment and surface tension test. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive atomic (EDAX) and stereoscopic microscopy was used to identify the corrosion processes and products. Cl- and NO3- were shown accelerating effects during the whole corrosion process but depression effects were observed in Cl- and HSO3- bearing pollutant at the initial corrosion stage. However, with the corrosion going on, the depression effects was less obviously and the initial corrosion process was investigated from the viewpoint of surface activity. At the initial corrosion stage, the corrosion rate was proportional to the adsorptivity of anions, but as corrosion went on, the penetration effect of anions and different characteristics of the corrosion products began to dominate the corrosion process, which led to changes on the corrosion rate.