California IN BRIEF : OAKLAND : Workers at Medical Center Losing Hair

Five employees of the Merritt Peralta Medical Center are losing their hair and company officials are trying to find out why, a center spokeswoman said. “We’re very concerned,” said Nancy Barsky. A 25-year-old man has lost so much hair that he shaved his head and wears a hat whenever he goes out in public. The four others, all women, have bald spots or thinning patches of hair, Barsky said. So far, no one knows what has caused the hair loss. Victims are being sent to a specialist in environmental dermatology. A series of environmental tests were performed Sept. 18 but the tests did not indicate anything unusual in the offices, Barsky said. “It’s just desks, computers and filing cabinets,” she said.