Abstract: Traditional blackboard chalk is still a prevalent teaching medium especially in most of the primary and secondary schools in the developing countries. These chalks not only pollute the classroom environments but also cause a high prevalence of chalk dust problems among teachers and young students. This article aims to identify the effects of traditional chalk dusts and to design and fabricate eco-friendly chalks. To fulfil these objectives, a cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2013 to January 2014 with a sample of 290 teachers, students and guardians in Sylhet division, Bangladesh and analyzed. The fabrication criterion of eco-friendly chalk was designed based on the identified customer requirements. Different health-related problems due to chalk dust are also identified. It is found that these fine particles of chalk dust in the classroom can exert some adverse effects on the human respiratory system, eye, skin, and hair etc. A series of lab tests and field studies were carried out to assess the performance of the fabricated chalk. The fabricated dustless chalk having a tapered cylindrical shape with a specified length and diameter offers many advantages over the traditional chalk in terms of flexibility, color, visibility, price, ease of use, etc.

Keywords: Blackboard chalk; Chalk dust; Chalk performance; Eco-friendly environment; Health hazards

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2019.61103