Scientists from the University of London studied hair follicles from balding men and found that the process of hair growth was impaired by oxidative stress.
"We think any pollutant that can get into the bloodstream or into the skin and into the hair follicle could cause some stress to it and impair the ability of the hair to make a fiber," says Mike Philpott, one of the researchers involved in the study.
"There are a whole host of carcinogens and toxins in the environment that could trigger this. It suggests that if you stop smoking or live in an area with less air pollution, you may be less predisposed to hair loss."
The team are now planning further tests to discover which compounds are most likely to interfere with the hair growth process.
