"This review was authored by Elizabeth Braun on a commission from UNEP-DTIE"--Page [2]. "This report has been prepared jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Division on Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) and the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC), with significant contributions from the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI)--P. 9. "DTI/0904/PA"--Page 2 of cover. Includes bibliographical references (pages 49-51).

Introduction -- Understanding the role of reactive nitrogen in the environment -- Impacts of excess reactive nitrogen in the environment -- Addressing effects of reactive nitrogen in the environment -- Case study : nitrogen excesses in Latin America and the Caribbean -- Case study : nitrogen excesses in Europe -- Case study : nitrogen excesses in Asia -- Case study : nitrogen excesses in North America -- Case study : nitrogen deficiencies in Africa -- Conclusion and recommendations. About 40% of the human population depends upon food production made possible by synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Combustion of fossil fuels adds more reactive nitrogen to air, water and soil. This distortion of the global nitrogen cycle, while raising agricultural yields, causes degradation of water and air quality, biodiversity, ecosystem services and human health. This review examines the impacts of reactive nitrogen on the environment, human health and economies from local to global scales.--Publisher's description.