Faulty construction or neglected maintenance is the primary cause of structural hazards in homes and schools. Faulty construction leads to building defects that increase the likelihood of structural hazards and fires, which in turn increase the risk of falls, burns, and other injuries. These defects also lead to inadequate ventilation and moisture accumulation; both factors raise the levels of asthma triggers in the home (38, 52). Poor ventilation, especially of tightly sealed homes, can lead to the buildup of combustion by-products (such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide compounds), especially when wood-burning stoves, gas cooking stoves or.
