Sat Mar 01 15:45:00 UTC 2025: ## Mystery of Mass Hair Loss in Maharashtra Linked to Contaminated Wheat
**Shegaon, Maharashtra, March 1, 2025** – Over 300 residents of Shegaon taluka, Buldhana district, Maharashtra, experienced sudden hair loss between December 2024 and January 2025. An investigation, initially hampered by a lack of transparency from the Health Ministry, points to high levels of selenium in wheat distributed through the Public Distribution System (PDS) as the likely culprit.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and AIIMS Delhi conducted a study in January, collecting samples from affected and unaffected individuals. Their interim report, submitted January 28th, revealed that blood selenium levels in those with hair loss were up to 31 times higher than the control group. Selenium levels in wheat samples from PDS outlets were also significantly elevated.
These findings corroborate an independent investigation by Dr. Himmatrao Bawaskar, which linked high selenium in wheat to the hair loss. Although the ICMR-AIIMS team’s findings predate Dr. Bawaskar’s report, the government has yet to publicly release their data.
While the high selenium levels in wheat appear to be the cause of selenosis (a condition characterized by hair loss), the report notes that the hair loss was relatively short-lived, suggesting that only a limited batch of contaminated wheat was distributed.
The incident echoes past instances of delayed public health information, such as the delayed reporting of Zika virus cases in Gujarat. Experts are calling for further investigation into the PDS wheat supply chain to ensure that the contaminated wheat has been removed and to prevent future outbreaks. The current investigation raises serious concerns about food safety and the transparency of government agencies in dealing with public health crises.
First Piper 