Chalk and Toxic-Board marker? Are they really safe? Think twice.

Chalk Dust can accumulate in the human respiratory system, which can create long-term health problems due to overexposure. If breathing in chalk dust for a number of years can create or trigger respiratory problems. Some of this chalk dust settles to the ground or is ventilated outside, but much of it falls on clothing, furniture, electronic equipment and shelves. Teachers and students also inhale a portion of this chalk dust, which usually becomes trapped in the mucus layers of the throat and upper lungs.

 

Teachers and chalk always go together. But, would you believe that the same piece of chalk may be giving teachers and students respiratory and skin allergies? Several doctors in the city have been getting a lot of patients, who are teachers and even students, with respiratory and skin allergies and throat problems. Chalk dust seems to be the reason for this."This is not something new. They have been getting respiratory and skin allergies from the use of chalk for a long time. Chalk dust not only causes respiratory and skin allergies, but also affects vision," says Stewart D. Pitts, E.C.A. and computer In-charge at Daffodil Public School.

 

"They also develop throat related problems. No matter how much we invest in treatment, there is no hope of complete recovery. Another important thing is we depend on our voice and once we get throat problem it becomes crippled and helpless and thus affects our teaching efficiency," she adds.

 

Recently, the doctors in ENT Department of major hospitals in the city have reported the cases of complaining of a running nose, breathing problems and allergies in teachers mostly. The only viable alternative for teachers was to either switch to non-dust chalk pieces or try out innovative teaching methods that do not involve black boards or chalk pieces, An ENT specialist at TU Teaching Hospital says. "There are quite a few cases where teachers have also developed growths in their vocal chords. This happens owing to constant friction and their vocal chords are always strained," he adds. "I developed a severe respiratory allergy. Even after extensive treatment, it did not subside. I was forced to quit teaching owing to my deteriorating health," says Bimla Pradhan, a former teacher.

 

Problem of respiratory allergies are increasing as the quality of chalk available in the market is bad. They have been using excess chemical to whiten and brighten the so called dust-less chalk crayons available these days in the market. Mr. B.K. Vaidya, a renounwned professor, says that other than occasional sore throat, he had never developed any allergies. "Teachers have to depend on their voice. Over a period of time, it starts changing. Primary and middle schoolteachers are the most affected in this regard," Mr. Vaidhya Principal of Thames Collage, says that teachers these days were more prone to getting affected.”

 

Indoor air pollution is a problem in at least half of our nation’s schools—in classrooms and other learning areas such as laboratories, libraries, and gymnasiums. Poor indoor air quality affects students’ and teachers’ health and comforts in the following ways:

•Uncomfortable, unhealthy students can be distracted and inattentive. Their concentrate and productivity suffer, which will affect their performance.

•Students with asthma or allergies are particularly sensitive to indoor air pollutants, resulting in increased or more severe reactions and episodes.

•Sickness and absenteeism rise. Absent students miss out on valuable learning experiences.

• Your energy levels and performance suffer because of sickness and absenteeism.

 

 

 

The number of children with asthma increased by 60 percent during the 1980s, and poor indoor air quality can trigger asthmatic episodes. Over half of the schools surveyed found at least one environmental problem which affects indoor air quality, according to a recent government report.

Good indoor air quality contributes to a favorable learning environment for students, productivity for teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, Health, and well-being for all school occupants. These combine to assist a school in its core mission—educating children.

We knew that a vast majority of students were diagnosed with asthma before kindergarten. Some of them had asthma triggered at the school site. We wanted to make sure that the facility was not part of the problem, says Dipti Sharma,who has 30 years experience as a school nurse.

 

A senior environmental engineer says that indoor air pollution ranks among the top four environmental health risks.

 

In schools, poor air quality and subsequent asthma attacks can be affected by Chalk dust, particles of black toxic board markers and so on.A data issued by American Lung Association states.

 

There are teachers who are a devout chalkboard. These are the chemical components for them to have problems:

 

INHALATION: (Silicia, Crystalline-Quartz)

 

Human: LCLo: 300 μg/m3 intermittent exposure over a 10-year period produced pulmonary system effects.

 

They find it Enthusiastic but every time the board is erased there is a rather large chalk cloud and a rather bad cough is followed.

 

Once again, as new schools are emerging rapidly so are the problems associated with children in school with allergies. While there can be many allergy-causing problems in a classroom, chalk and the chalk dust from blackboards, and toxic board markers can quick cause allergy symptoms to appear in children. Teachers use the chalkboard as the major tool in helping children figure out what is important and what needs to be written down for future references. Chalk dust usually fills the room with tiny chalk particles; this is especially noticeable when the board is erased. Just take a good look around the room if the room is bright, you can see the small particles of dust everywhere.

 

The traditional chalkboard also known as the blackboard has been replaced in many school classrooms with white boards. But yet, the problems arise due to the toxic marker used on it.So, it is advisable to use green boards as its good for the vision. Many Educational institutions and health sectors have appreciated the idea.

 

The three main purposes for the change from traditional chalkboards to green boards are:

 

-To decrease allergy symptoms and attacks in the classrooms.

 

-To eliminate the negative effects chalk dust leaves on all surfaces and airborne.

 

-Increased student retention.

 

Many teachers prefer the use of the blackboard to the use of the newer green boards that use the dry erase non-toxic markers. They feel that the old blackboard is easier for the student to see. Most students do not suffer from allergies and the chalk does not bother them is what they tend to believe, even if it doesn’t what about the few that do suffer from allergies. Is it fair to make these children suffer?

 

Let us take a few minutes and discuss what happens to the children who do suffer chalk and toxic-markers allergies. The tiny airborne irritants from chalk could cause a child to begin coughing, whizzing, they would probably be constantly rubbing their eyes. A child’s allergies begin when their body releases histamine into their system causing the allergy to surface.

 

In some cases, children end up in the hospital with breathing problems and skin reactions. Day after day exposure to the chalk dust will begin to break down their immune system, is this really what we are want for our children? School is meant to be a safe place for children to learn; therefore, schools have taken on the responsibility to see that the conditions in the classroom are safe for every child.

 

Without protecting the children that do suffer from these allergies we are asking for more sick days, so they can recover only for them to return to the same environment, producing a vicious cycle of health issues.

 

The only one who knew if the custodian had cleaned the chalkboard the night before was the first period teacher. Once used, the chalkboard develops a coating of smeared chalk dust that normal erasers cannot remove. The tray fills with so much dust, the teacher needs to feel to find the chalk. There are never enough erasers to make it through the day, not to mention the chalk dust on clothes, fingers, and hair. Desks and classroom furniture look as if they are never dusted; even the floor is dusty. To add to it, if it’s a black marker, the dust gets black and even worst and becomes the major factor for deteriorating health.

 

The problem is prevailing and there are chances of serious impact on health in the days to come. But it’s a sad story that there had been no serious effort made to resolve the trauma from government as well other bodies in the past.

 

Although, the new budget has invested a huge sum in education sector. Problem on this part of education sector still seems to be over-shadowed and unreachable.

 

Recently, a discussion and interaction program was held in Kathmandu about the awareness on the health hazards created by chalk dust and toxic black markers. There were more than 25 participants from fifteen different schools.” It’s a beginning phase so we wanted to share the ideas and problems of the first few people and create an environment of awareness on the matter.”, says Mr. Bheshraj Poudel,chairman of DFC Nepal.”DFC Nepal has come up with the motive to free the classrooms from dust and create a better learning and teaching environment. It has been organizing interaction programs on the awareness about the dust created by chalk crayons and toxic board markers. We are soon to extend the program in different parts of the country including Kathmandu in the first phase and also in Bhutan and India and also in other south Asian countries in the near future. We are also aiming and working out to enhance and add to potentiality in education sector with the use of modern hi-techs at affordable and economized cost for the country like ours. And we hope to succeed. ”, he adds.

 

With the efforts made from the government and non-governmental level the hopes arises. Healthy teachers, better teaching and that shall contribute to overall education sector. We shall soon see our lovely tots happy and healthy, enjoying the classroom and excited to go to school for a better learning process.