…/substances/chalk.md

Chalk is a matte, fine white dust resembling ash in both appearance and texture found extensively HERE, now distributed across the entire world. Following the Hunt, Chalk became a pervasive environmental hazard, responsible for widespread fatalities and the near-complete sterilisation of the planet. Its precise origin remains unknown, as it continues to fall indefinitely with no identifiable source. Its primary component is calcium carbonate, though the remainder of its composition remains unidentified. It has been confirmed, however, that Chalk is composed of Aberrant Matter.

Toxicity

Chalk is highly toxic to most known forms of life. Inhalation results in immediate respiratory distress, characterised by severe coughing, choking, and rapid asphyxiation. Ingestion causes perforation of the digestive tract and damage to blood vessels, leading to internal haemorrhaging. Even microorganisms are susceptible to its effects, and the substance has demonstrated the capacity to penetrate surfaces and disperse through aquatic environments, with traces recorded at depths of up to 11,000 m below the ocean surface. Prolonged exposure leads to acute Chalk poisoning, a condition marked by bronchiole necrosis and systemic toxicity as Chalk particles enter the bloodstream, progressively damaging internal organs. Notably, Chalk can bypass the blood–brain barrier, resulting in neurological deterioration in advanced cases, and affected individuals have been noted to be able to spread large quantities of Chalk through coughing, with an unknown mechanism allowing Chalk particles to multiply when inside the body.

Impact

Since the Hunte, Chalk has become ubiquitous in the atmosphere, soil, and oceanic layers. Its persistent fall and high toxicity have rendered most ecosystems uninhabitable, leading to massive biodiversity loss. Despite this, certain allokaryotic organisms exhibit partial resistance to Chalk’s degenerative effects. These species can survive in heavily contaminated environments without experiencing long-term physiological damage. Mosaics, notably, are not included in that category.

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