Pollution sends men bald

The scientists believe toxins and carcinogens found in polluted air can stop hair growing by blocking mechanisms that produce the protein from which hair is made. Baldness is known to be hereditary, but the new research suggests that environmental factors could exacerbate hair loss.

The study, recently published in the Journal ofInvestigative Dermatology, involved removing hair follicles frombalding men and then studying the samples in laboratories.

Theteam noted disruption in the process of hair growth, caused byoxidative stress, which destroys cells and is made worse by the effectsof smoking and air pollution.

Prof Philpott added:"There is an inherited basis to hair loss, but we are have nowidentified environmental factors that are important too."

Theteam plan to conduct further tests to pinpoint precise sources whichmay cause baldness, including trying to grow hair in differentenvironments that are rich in nicotine and other pollutants found inair.