The purpose of the symposium was to present recent advances in characterization and control of odour and volatile organic compound emissions in the atmosphere, and to contribute to the state-of-the-art of measurement and sampling tools, impact prediction methods and abatement techniques. Topics covered were:Legislative aspectsEmission characterizationAbatement technologies, both recuperative and destructive andReduction methods. Apart from the global problems of climate, all aspects relating to the workplace environment and official regulations were discussed.