Can chalk dust cause a teacher to develop lung cancer?
Aug 13, 2010 in
Lung Cancer Questions
A teacher has been diagnosed with respiratory cancer even though the person has never smoked or been around persons who smoke or polluted environments.
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4 comments
Erica G on August 13, 2010 at 7:31 pm
nope. im at a gymnastics gym and constantly inhaling chalk constantly and im fine, and even if it was harmful to teachers they use expo markers now
Tim J on August 13, 2010 at 7:31 pm
No.. Chalk is completely inert. Meaning, there is nothing in it that can cause a respiratory issues..
Chances are that she has a genetic propensity towards developing it…
julvrug on August 13, 2010 at 7:31 pm
hm you say has never been around a polluted environment? does this teacher never go outside or work in a building? if so they do live in a polluted environment, or never driven a car, rode a bus, or other means of transportation? never been near a factory, or other high polluting business? has never drank from a city water supply? Smoking is not the only thing that causes lung cancer. Even clearing off a person’s car in the winter while the vehicle is running is pollution and very dangerous to the person. Chalk dust is probably the lowest possible cause, considering there are pollutants in the heating and cooling system of the individuals home and the school they work in.
Orion on August 13, 2010 at 7:31 pm
No. Chalk is made of either calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate which have no evidence of causing cancer. You can look up the MSDS for almost any chemical or Commercial product to see potential hazards. There is a small percentage of lung cancer cases that did not smoke (approx 20%). The most famous being Christopher Reeves’ wife. You can learn more about cancers and their causes at links below.