In recent months, Maharashtra’s Buldhana district has witnessed an alarming outbreak of sudden hair loss, medically termed acute onset alopecia totais. This condition has predominantly affected young individuals, including college students and young women, leading to significant social and psychological distress. Extensive investigations have traced the root cause to wheat supplied through local ration shops, specifically sourced from the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. The underlying culprit identified is an excessive concentration of selenium in the wheat, a trace mineral that, in elevated amounts, can be toxic and detrimental to health.

The Buldhana Outbreak: A Closer Look

Between December 2024 and January 2025, approximately 279 residents across 18 villages in Buldhana experienced rapid hair loss. The progression was swift, with individuals reporting complete baldness within three to four days of initial symptoms. Accompanying manifestations included headaches, fevers, scalp itching, tingling sensations, and, in certain cases, gastrointestinal disturbances like vomiting and diarrhea. The sudden and severe nature of these symptoms prompted immediate concern and a thorough medical investigation.

Investigative Findings: Linking Wheat to Hair Loss

Dr. Himmatrao Bawaskar, a distinguished physician and researcher, spearheaded the inquiry into this perplexing health crisis. His research unveiled that the affected individuals had been consuming wheat distributed through the Public Distribution System (PDS), with the grain originating from Punjab and Haryana. Laboratory analyses of the wheat samples revealed alarmingly high selenium concentrations. Specifically, unwashed wheat samples contained selenium levels of 14.52 mg/kg, while washed samples had 13.61 mg/kg. For context, the typical selenium content in wheat ranges from 0.1 to 1.9 mg/kg, indicating that the contaminated samples had selenium concentrations up to 145 times higher than the minimum normal levels.

Further medical examinations of the affected populace showed elevated selenium levels in blood, urine, and hair samples—35-fold, 60-fold, and 150-fold increases, respectively. Additionally, these individuals exhibited significantly reduced zinc levels, a mineral essential for immune function and hair health. The imbalance between elevated selenium and diminished zinc is believed to have precipitated the observed alopecia.

Understanding Selenium: Essential Yet Potentially Harmful

Selenium is a vital trace element necessary for various physiological functions, including antioxidant defense and thyroid hormone metabolism. However, the margin between beneficial and harmful selenium intake is narrow. Chronic exposure to high selenium levels can lead to selenosis, characterized by symptoms such as gastrointestinal upsets, hair loss, white blotchy nails, and, in severe cases, neurological abnormalities. The Buldhana incident underscores the delicate balance required in selenium consumption and the potential hazards of excessive intake.

Geographical and Agricultural Factors: The Punjab Connection

The source of the selenium-rich wheat traces back to specific regions in Punjab and Haryana, particularly areas adjacent to the Shivalik mountain range. In the early 2000s, districts like Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr in Punjab experienced similar hair loss incidents. Investigations at that time linked the phenomenon to selenium-laden floodwaters originating from the Shivalik Hills, which contaminated local agricultural fields. Selenium, naturally present in certain geological formations, can leach into the soil and water systems, subsequently being absorbed by crops. Wheat, in particular, has a propensity to accumulate selenium from the soil.

Dr. Bawaskar’s research suggests that wheat cultivated in these selenium-rich soils was inadvertently incorporated into the PDS supply chain, eventually reaching consumers in Maharashtra. This hypothesis is supported by the identification of gunny bags in Buldhana’s ration shops bearing seals from Punjab, indicating the wheat’s provenance.
THE TELEGRAPH

Governmental Response and Ongoing Investigations

In response to the crisis, local authorities have suspended the distribution of the implicated wheat batches. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been commissioned to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter. Preliminary reports from the ICMR have detected elevated selenium levels in the blood and hair samples of affected individuals, corroborating Dr. Bawaskar’s findings. However, the ICMR has indicated that further studies are necessary to conclusively establish the causal link between the contaminated wheat and the alopecia outbreak.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI), responsible for procuring and distributing food grains through the PDS, is also under scrutiny. Officials have noted that while Punjab is a major contributor to the central wheat stock, similar reports of hair loss have not emerged from other regions receiving wheat from the same sources. This discrepancy suggests that additional factors, such as localized dietary habits or environmental conditions, may influence the manifestation of symptoms.
ECONOMIC TIMES

Preventive Measures and Future Recommendations

The Buldhana incident highlights the critical need for stringent quality control measures in the procurement and distribution of food grains. Regular testing for contaminants, including trace minerals like selenium, should be instituted to prevent similar public health crises. Moreover, there is a pressing need for environmental monitoring in agricultural regions susceptible to natural contamination. Farmers in areas with high natural selenium levels should be educated about the risks and encouraged to adopt agricultural practices that mitigate selenium uptake by crops.

For consumers, awareness about the sources of their food and potential contaminants is essential. In regions where reliance on PDS grains is high, community engagement and vigilance can serve as additional safeguards against the distribution of contaminated foodstuffs.

The sudden hair loss epidemic in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate connections between environmental factors, agricultural practices, and public health. While selenium is indispensable in trace amounts, its excess poses significant health risks. This incident underscores the imperative for comprehensive monitoring systems, from soil health.