Is Maharashtra’s unexplained hair loss linked to wheat in Punjab? An expert explains why high selenium in wheat is toxic

Meanwhile, teams from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi have visited the villages and collected samples too. Their reports are awaited though district collector Kiran Patil has ruled out water contamination.

WHAT IS SELENIUM? HOW MUCH IS NEEDED BY OUR BODY?

Selenium is a mineral found in water and some foods. While people only need a very small amount, it is an antioxidant and helps in metabolism. The recommended daily allowance for selenium is 20 micrograms for children, 55 micrograms for adults and 60-70 micrograms for pregnant and lactating women. The body can tolerate higher levels of up to 400 micrograms but beyond that side effects kick in.

WHICH FOOD ITEM TRIGGERED HAIR LOSS AMONG VILLAGERS?

The ration wheat consumed by them showed a 600 time higher level of selenium. “Locally produced wheat, however, showed normal levels of selenium,” says Dr Bawaskar. Selenium is found in almost all routine edible items, including meat and poultry products, in an optimum range. Selenium in sesame, mustard and sunflower is 8.31, 110 and 18 ppm respectively.

WHY PUNJAB WHEAT?

Dr Bawaskar has flagged concerns related to the ration wheat procured from Punjab, specifically from Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr districts. “These areas are in the foothills of the Shivalik range in the outer Himalayas. Rocks here are a rich source of selenium and wheat has the highest capacity to absorb and store it,” he says, adding ICMR was the first to report the high selenium content in ration wheat. “The government should investigate wheat samples for selenium before distributing supplies to the public,” he says.

WHAT ARE SIDE EFFECTS?

“Selenium in excess can cause oxidative stress or cell damage and mitochondrial membrane damage of hair. All the patients had suffered other symptoms of toxicity like vomitting, diarrhoea, garlic odour in breath, fever, headache, itching of the scalp, tingling and numbness. They had all consumed ration wheat,” Dr Bawaskar says.

The hair of all the patients fell in clumps. “Within four days, there was total loss of hair. However after six to eight weeks, there was re-growth as well. Hence baldness is not a permanent issue,” he adds. In fact, Dr Bawaskar, who is an authority on treating scorpion stings and primary healthcare, read about how girls and boys had stopped going to school and colleges. “No vegetable vendors, milk distributors, guests would visit these villages. Many arranged marriages were disrupted,” he says.

HOW TO BEAT SELENIUM TOXICITY

“There are no drugs or antidotes for selenium toxicity except to avoid them,” he says.