INTRODUCTION

Eggs are part of a wide variety of recipes, and the high demand for eggs is

accompanied by a high production. In the latest global data from International Egg

Commission (IEC), the growth in egg production worldwide is continuously increasing,

with a 3.5% growth from 2018 to 2019, in line with the average yearly increase of 3.3%

over a decade. Asia has the greatest rate of production growth, with China taking the lead

at a yearly growth rate of 2%. However, the increasing production and the low shelf-life

of eggs contribute to food waste production across the globe. The Environmental

Protection Agency has listed its shell as the 15 th most significant food industry pollution

hazard. The eggshell is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) making up

almost 97% of its dry weight and other elements like phosphorus and magnesium.

On the other hand, true oysters which belong to the Ostreidae family, are found in

the world’s oceans, usually in shallow waters and in colonies called beds or reefs. Oyster

shells are usually oval or pear-shaped and are generally whitish gray in outer shell color,

and their inside shell is usually porcelain white (National Geographic). The oyster shell is

rich in calcium carbonate and can be used as a raw material in making building materials

(Bellei, et.al., 2023). However, the disposal of oyster shell is associated with waste

accumulation and water pollution caused by improper landfill and microbial activity. It is

also associated with off-odor issues due to the use of cheap disposal methods, high

management costs, and negative effects on soil PH due to inappropriate recycling

(Ulagesan, et.al, 2022). Even so, oyster shell has the potential to be used as safe and

ecofriendly functional compounds. According to Bellei, et.al. (2023), “many researchers

focused on the incorporation of oyster shell in the composition of composites, as it is a

means of contributing to the economic sustainability by reducing the presence of

pollution caused by aquaculture waste in the environment, thus increasing the value chain

of the construction sector and reducing its carbon footprint.”

Chalk, in its natural state, is soft, white, and a fine-grained variety of limestone.

Its composition is primarily from calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) from shells of microscopic

one-shelled organisms known as foraminifera. When these foraminifera die, their shells

sink to the sea floor, mix with lime mud, and eventually process to become chalk deposits

(Britannica Kids). During prehistoric times, there have been several factors that suggest

chalk’s use in communicating. According to archaeologists, chalk was used to create

some of the earliest forms of cave painting. Until now, chalk has been used by artists in

producing art pieces in various styles. (How Products are Made).

When the class sizes began to increase back in the nineteenth century, chalk

became the standard writing materials. Because teachers needed a convenient and

efficient way to convey information among large number of students, chalk was the best

option for them. Not only did the teachers use this material, but children also had

individual chalk and chalkboards, paired with pieces of old clothing as the eraser. These

small chalkboards were for practice, while pen dipped in ink and written on paper were

reserved for those older and can be trusted, as paper during that time was expensive so

little to no mistakes in writing was important (How Products are Made).

Although new classroom settings use whiteboards and markers, chalk and

chalkboards are still used, especially in rural areas where there is difficult access to

modern school materials. Some educators still prefer chalk since they believe that writing

with it slows down the pace and allows the students to understand the lesson better
(Hough, 2017).

However, the highlight of using chalk also has downsides. Using chalk has some

negative effects on the health of teachers and learners in the school environment. When

chalk is used and reused on chalkboards, it produces chalk dust particles that enters a

person’s respiratory system through their mouths and nasopharyngeal regions while

talking or breathing. Some of its potential impact includes airflow resistance which is

characterized by difficulty in breathing, lung volume impairment, and lung damage

(Azodo, et.al., 2020). This presents the risks of inhaling chalk dust which is harmful to an

individual’s health. According to a study by Majumdar and William (2009), as cited in the

study by Azodo et.al., (2020), compared with writing using chalk, cleaning the

chalkboard produces higher amounts of airborne dust. Like other particulate matters,

when chalk dust is suspended in air, they exhibit random movements while they are in the

atmosphere. As time passes, they begin to settle down on the surrounding matter,

particularly in the teacher and student’s body parts, the desks, and the floor.

It is true that there are anti-dust and dustless chalks produced in the market,

however, it does not guarantee a full dustless experience. According to Chi-Chi Lin, Mei-

Kuei Lee, Hsiao-Lin Huang in their study entitled Effects of Chalk Use on Dust Exposure

and Classroom Air Quality (2015), “the results indicate that anti-dust chalk can generate

considerable quantities of dust particles and substantially increase the mass concentration

of dust in the proximity of the chalkboard. Approximately 15% of observed chalk dust

particles were respirable and high concentrations of chalk dust deteriorated the indoor air

quality. Moreover, chalk dust was the primary source of indoor coarse particles.

Mechanical ventilation resuspended the settled chalk dust particles, thereby increasing
the mass concentration of airborne dust. Using anti-dust chalk generates coarse, fine, and

ultrafine particles, particularly when cleaning the chalkboard.”

Hence, in the research locale, where chalk and chalkboards are utilized as a means

of education, the researchers have identified the risks of continuous exposure to chalk

dust produced by standard chalks. It is a serious matter that needs to be addressed

accordingly to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for the students. Thus,

the researchers decided to create a dustless marker chalk with eggshells and oyster shells

as raw material for the liquid chalk. As the eggshells and oyster shells are highly

composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), it provides a strong foundation in the creation

of the product. The researchers have also decided to create chalk in the form of a marker

to remove the chances of chalk sticking to the hand of its user while it is being held.

Generally, this study aims to develop a safe and environmentally friendly

alternative to traditional chalk by utilizing readily available and recyclable materials like

eggshells and oyster shells. Specifically, this study will be conducted 1) to experiment

with different solvents to optimize the chalk's properties, including writing quality,

erasability, and chalk dust production, 2) to determine if there is significant difference of

using water-based and alcohol-based solvents for the liquid chalk in terms of its

properties, 3) to determine the optimal concentration for the liquid chalk, and 4) to

evaluate the potential of eggshell and oyster shell-based marker chalk as alternative for

traditional chalk.

The study will focus on developing a safe and friendly marker chalk using food

wastes, namely eggshells and oyster shells. This study will evaluate the impact of the

elements on marker chalks in using experimental variables such as the incorporation of

glycerin as binder and cornstarch as thickener and using different solvents to optimize the

properties of the marker chalk. The study is set to begin in the second grading period of

the academic year 2024-2025 at Tabu National High school and an expected output will

be produced before the end of the second semester based on meeting sample testing

requirements and thorough evaluation and analysis. All procedures will be performed at

Tabu National High School Science Laboratory.

This study will be highly beneficial to the students and teachers of Tabu National

High School who are constantly exposed to the risks of airborne chalk dust that pollutes

the quality of air inside the classrooms. It will be also beneficial to the parents of the

students because the produced product will decrease the risk of having respiratory

problems in their children due to chalk dust. In addition, the researchers who will conduct

the study will also benefit, as well as future researchers who will use the study for

reference. Furthermore, this study will help reduce the environmental damage that

discarded eggshell and oyster shell wastes induce by utilizing it as material in making a

safe, teacher and learner-friendly marker chalk.