“…With respect to aldehyde metabolism, the nasal epithelium appears well equipped to metabolize aldehydes because it expresses multiple GSTs as well as aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) -enzymes that are important for aldehyde metabolism (Green et al, 2005;Stanek and Morris, 1999;Whitby-Logan et al, 2004). Similarly, the upper airways would also be expected to receive high-level exposure to airborne aldehydes, as well as other pollutants (Morris, 1997;Roux et al, 1996;Roux et al, 2002a;Roux et al, 2002b). Surprisingly, exposure to acrolein alone for 3 days decreased nasal epithelial GST activity but not the level of nonprotein sulfhydryl, which could indicate that downregulation of protective enzymes increases sensitivity to subsequent exposure (Cassee et al, 1996).…”