Health aspects of White board vs black board

Question

I am wondering about the health aspects of black boards and white boards.

Black boards have now been around for centuries. Their only detrimental health effect is the chalk dust. Some senior colleagues tell me that they are having breathing issues after several years of teaching. Then again, it's just chalk, which is chemically fairly well-understood.

White boards are a rather recent fad in academia. They do not -seem- to produce dust as much as blackboards, but nevertheless there is a mess over time with ink dripping down onto the floor, and you need replace the erasers regularly. Last but not least, I have no clue about the ink used in those pens and their health effects.

Do you have practical advice how to handle black boards and white boards, and do you know about medical research about them?

Answer 1

The only type of board that doesn't affect the air in the classroom is a digital whiteboard (aka a smartboard). If you're using an actual white board or black board be sure that your room is well ventilated and cleaned often. For chalk boards specifically some sources recommend chalk holders and even face masks.

Here are the papers I found on the subject of white/black boards and health:

Blackboards

• Effects of Chalk Use on Dust Exposure and Classroom Air Quality

  • Although using chalkboards in the classroom is a traditional and effective teaching method, chalk generates a large amount of airborne dust, and particularly submicrometer dust and nanoparticles that can penetrate into the respiratory system.

• Investigation of Lecturer's Chalk by X-Ray Florescence and Fast Neutron Activation Techniques

  • The presence of Ca and small traces of Al, Fe, Mg and Si elements in the different lecturer's chalk samples were confirmed utilizing Fast Neutron Activation Analysis (FNAA), lifetime, and X-ray florescence (XRF) techniques. [...] It is highly recommended that Chalk dust is considered an irritant and an occupational hazard as shown in this investigation.

• Assessment of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter and Particle Size Distribution in Settled Chalk Dust during Writing and Dusting Exercises in a Classroom

  • Though real-time airborne chalk dust generation was found to be low in this study and chalk dust contained only calcium carbonate or calcium sulphate predominantly and did not contain toxic materials, chalk dust could be harmful to allergic persons and may cause lacrimation and breathing troubles in the long run and certainly is a constant nuisance in classrooms as it may soil clothes, body parts, audio visual aids and study materials. The issue of allergy, lacrimation and breathing problem is certainly critical, considering that classroom teaching involves predominantly children and also in many cases teachers who might have crossed the middle age, thus becoming more susceptible. Exposure to low concentrations of fine particles for longer durations can be a matter of concern for children.

• Trace elemental profile of School Chalk from a few Companies in Punjab areas by WDXRF Technique

  • The results of this study confirmed the presence of the elements like Ca, Al, Fe, Si, Ni, and Cr are in significant concentrations. The exposure to elements like Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Ni and Cr causes irritation to eyes and skin, cough, potential health symptoms includes accumulation to lungs. The study confirmed that black board chalk is an irritant and occupational hazard.

"Dust free" chalks

• Investigation of particulate matter performances in relation to chalk selection in classroom environment

  • Surprisingly, dustless chalk made from Gypsum cannot be called really as dustless because of more [particulate matter] emissions.

• Allergenicity of casein containing chalk in milk allergic schoolchildren

  • Dust free chalk often contains casein, which can cause asthma if someone is allergic to milk (typically it's infants and children who have this allergy).

Whiteboards

I didn't find as much research on whiteboards, unfortunately.

• Solvent Exposure during use of Solvent-Based Whiteboard Markers

  • It does not appear that heavy use of solvent-based whiteboard markers by students in a classroom situation would likely result in excessive acute solvent exposures.

• Analysis of the indoor air quality in greek primary schools

  • [C]lassrooms using chalk in blackboard are characterized with significant concentrations of large sized particles (PM_2.5 & PM₁₀), while classrooms using marker in whiteboards from increased VOCs and CO concentrations

• Volatile organic compound emissions from markers used in preschools, schools, and homes

  • I couldn't read enough of this paper to reach any conclusions, but it seems relevant nonetheless

Answer 2

Why a Black board should be preferred-

• White on black is easier on the eyes in a well-lit classroom. (due to the difference in contrast)

• Black boards provide more flexibility - you can shade and colour with chalk more effectively, you can write with chalk from any point in the chalk piece, unlike the marker that has a tip

• Tend to be more economical than markers as chalk is cheaper than marker ink.

• Chalk is easier to clean than marker ink if it accidentally gets on your clothes while teaching.

• Chalk boards don't produce glare unlike the glossy surface of a whiteboard. (students sitting at certain angles will have glare issues )

• Marker ink residue is more harmful than chalk if ingested.

• Marker ink has an unpleasant smell, whereas chalk is odourless.

• Marker tips tend to widen and wear out sooner.

• While writing, the rough surface of the Blackboard rubbing against the chalk gives adequate feedback to the writing hand, so it is easier to handle, unlike the smooth slippery surface contact between marker and whiteboard.

• Dustless chalks are available that have a wax coated layer to prevent dust from flying out.

As far as scientific evidence goes, the human eye is most comfortable reading white on black OR black on white, so it is a matter of convenience as I see it.