The aim of this study was to develop a method that is suited for the induction of nasal irritation. For this purpose inflammatory responses were analysed after challenging the nasal mucosa with experimentally induced cold, dry air (8 1/min, 22 °C, 20 %RH). To assess inflammatory effects we determined inflammatory mediators (prostaglandin E2 [PGE2], thromboxane B2 [TXB2], peptide leukotrienes [pLT: LTC4, LTD4, LTE4]) in nasal lavage fluid which was sampled before, immediately after suprathreshold stimulation, and one hour after termination of the stimulation. In addition, subjects estimated the intensity of pain during the stimulation. Cold, dry air produced strong painful sensations which increased throughout the stimulation period. A significant increase of the inflammatory mediator pLT was observed after stimulation; mean concentrations of PGE2 and TXB2 also showed a tendency to increase. One hour after termination of the stimulation the concentration of these inflammatory mediators returned to baseline which indicates the reversibility of the effects of nasal irritation. These data suggest, that this model may be a useful tool in investigations of mucosal irritation as, for example, induced by environmental agents.