High Selenium to Blame for Hair and Nail Loss?

Nearly four months after a wave of unexplained hair loss swept through 15 villages in the Shegaon tehsil of Buldhana district, residents are now facing a disturbing new symptom—nail deformities and complete nail loss in fingers and toes.

Sudden Onset of Nail Loss After Hair Fall

The issue first emerged in December 2024 when villagers began reporting rapid hair loss. Now, within the past week, residents in at least five villages say they are also losing their nails. In Bondgaon village alone, around 150 people had earlier suffered hair loss. Many of them are now reporting nail damage.

Rameshwar Dharkar, the village head (sarpanch) of Bondgaon, stated, “First we lost our hair, and now even our nails are coming off. Some people’s nails are turning white, then black, and eventually peeling away completely.”

Health Department Begins Investigation

In response, the district health department dispatched a team to the affected areas on Thursday. Blood samples have been collected from several patients to identify the cause. The nail-related symptoms, which started in Bondgaon with seven cases, have since appeared in Kalwad (13 cases), Kathora (10), Machhindrakhed (7), and Ghui village in Meher tehsil (2).

Dr Anil Bankar, a local health officer, confirmed that 39 people across these villages are experiencing nail deformities. “In several cases, the nails have detached entirely. We have started basic treatment, and detailed check-ups will be conducted at Shegaon Hospital,” he said.

High Selenium Levels Under Scrutiny

According to Dr Amol Gite, Buldhana’s District Health Officer, elevated selenium levels in the body may be responsible for both hair and nail loss. “We are still awaiting final lab results, but initial reports indicate excess selenium as the likely cause,” he said.

Earlier investigations by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had already found high levels of selenium in the blood and hair samples of residents affected by sudden hair loss.

Environmental and Dietary Concerns Raised

Dr Sanjay Mahajan, who runs a hospital near Shegaon, highlighted that selenium toxicity also known as selenosis can cause symptoms such as hair loss, nail shedding, skin peeling, fatigue, and even nerve-related problems.

He explained, “The safe recommended daily intake of selenium is about 55 micrograms. Consuming more than 400 micrograms can be harmful. Anyone with these symptoms should seek medical advice and get their selenium levels tested.”

Contaminated Wheat May Be a Source?

Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar, a Padma Shri awardee and respected physician from Buldhana, had previously pointed to wheat supplied through ration shops as a possible source of the excess selenium. According to his findings, wheat sourced from Punjab and Haryana contained selenium levels up to 600 times higher than locally grown varieties.

“The wheat wasn’t contaminated after harvest. It appears to have absorbed unusually high amounts of selenium naturally from the soil, which is dry and alkaline in those regions,” he said. However, his findings have not yet been officially validated by authorities.

Growing Public Anxiety

Residents are growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of clear answers or treatment. “We still don’t know what caused the hair loss, and now we’re losing our nails. Experts keep coming, but nothing changes,” said a 56-year-old resident of Bondgaon.

Village head Dharkar echoed the sentiment. “Many tests have been done since December, but no medicines have been provided. People are beginning to suspect that something is being kept from us.”

Conclusion

Authorities are awaiting final lab results to confirm the cause of this mysterious illness. In the meantime, medical experts urge residents showing symptoms to avoid consuming wheat from the suspect sources and to consult health professionals for screening and support.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources