In this review article, recent understandings of the urban atmosphere are briefly presented, focusing on NO, (NO and NO2), NO3 and HOx (OH and HO2), which are the key species for photochemical ozone production in the urban air. For NOx chemistry, relationship between NOx and HOx, and photostationary state (PSS) of the conversion between NO and NO2 are introduced with examples of recent research. Chemistry of nitrate radicals in the nighttime is also introduced. In addition, recent and representative techniques for the measurements of reactive nitrogen species in the troposphere are presented. As for HOx radicals, important formation and loss processes and measurement methods developed recently are introduced. Recent campaign-based observations of HOx radicals in the troposphere are also presented. (C) 2003 Japanese Photochemistry Association. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.