Summary statement.

The First International Nitrogen Conference was held in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands from 23 to 27 March 1998. The Conference provided an opportunity for researchers and decision-makers to come together to exchange information on environmental pollution by nitrogen compounds at three levels: global, continental/regional and local. The main topics were air, groundwater and surface water pollution; emission sources, atmospheric chemistry, deposition processes and effects; disturbance of nitrogen cycles, critical loads and levels; assessments, policy development and evaluation; target groups and abatement techniques; and new approaches leading to an integrated abatement strategy. This paper attempts to capture briefly the highlights of the conference presentations and discussions, most of which are published here.