Toxic Wheat Caused Sudden Baldness in Maharashtra Village, Claims Study; Here's How

A new study has claimed that sudden hair loss among various residents of villages in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra was caused by toxic elements of wheat that the villagers have been consuming for quite some time.

According to the research conducted by Dr. Himmatrao Bawaskar, a renowned physician, the wheat distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS) contained high levels of selenium, while its zinc content was significantly low. "Our analysis of wheat from the affected region revealed that it contained 600 times more selenium than the locally grown variety. This high selenium intake is believed to be the cause of the alopecia cases. The condition developed rapidly, with total baldness occurring within three to four days of symptom onset in these villages," Dr. Bawaskar said.

Last month, while preliminary investigations of hair, scalp, and nail samples from the most affected Shegaon had ruled out a fungal infection as the cause of the mysterious “bald virus,” medical experts had suggested nitrate contamination in water led to people losing their hair.

Residents of several villages reported severe hair loss, with men losing not only scalp hair but also their beards and body hair. The rapid spread of this unusual condition sent shockwaves across the region, prompting the state health department to initiate an investigation into the cause.

The wheat samples, sent to Thane's Verni Analytical Lab, detected selenium levels of 14.52 mg/kg—significantly higher than the normal 1.9 mg/kg.

Dr. Bawaskar noted that all these wheat consignments originated from Punjab. "Blood, urine, and hair samples showed a 35-fold, 60-fold, and 150-fold increase in selenium content, respectively. This suggests that excessive selenium intake is a direct contributor to the outbreak. Our team also found that zinc levels were significantly lower in the affected individuals, pointing to a potential imbalance caused by the excess selenium," he added.

While Dr. Bawaskar is yet to submit the study report to the administration, scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have also collected water and soil samples from the area for testing, which confirmed high selenium levels in the blood of those who experienced hair loss.

Selenium is an extremely important trace mineral found in soil, water, and some foods. It is an important factor in many body processes, as it helps increase antioxidant effects in the body.

According to experts, the amount of selenium in the soil varies, and foods grown in different soils have different selenium levels.

People commonly use selenium for selenium deficiency and to reduce the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy. It is also used for prostate cancer, complications from statin drugs, abnormal cholesterol levels, cataracts, and many other conditions.

According to experts, selenium is highly unsafe when taken in high doses or for a long time – and can cause selenium toxicity. Selenium can cause stomach discomfort, headache, and rash.

High doses can cause hair loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Extremely high doses can lead to organ failure and death.

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