"In every endeavor, we strive for perfection, and settle for excellence."
                                                                                       -Microecologies' oath

Microecologies^® is a company whose people are dedicated to helping our clients and the community recognize and correct environmental problems in their homes and workplaces. Founded in 1993, we have built a solid reputation among residential clients, property managers, architects, physicians, and attorneys by providing excellence in identifying and solving indoor environmental problems. During these past seventeen years, we have conducted indoor environmental investigations for over 5000 clients and have performed remediation work or the implementation of engineering controls for over 2000 of these clients, many of whom we continue to serve. We are qualified and experienced in all aspects of HVAC mechanical hygiene, air filtration, fresh air and exhaust ventilation, water damage and mold growth issues, lead, asbestos, HAZCOM and respiratory protection, chemical vapor and microbial sampling and analytical methods, and contaminant source identification and control. We are experienced in conducting investigations and clean-ups for residential clients and commercial clients, including apparel and jewelry manufacturers, auto repair shops, copier repair and print shops, retail stores, distribution centers, construction and renovation projects, arts and entertainment facilities, restaurants, health care facilities, offices, and schools. We work closely with property managers, architects, HVAC engineers, and construction contractors to prevent mold growth and improve indoor air quality in buildings.

Many of Microecologies^® investigations are conducted in response to occupant health complaints, which frequently include allergies, asthma, chronic sinusitis, and other symptoms that may be associated with an environmental exposure. Our job is to determine if there is an environmental factor that may be provoking these symptoms, and if so, to identify, evaluate, determine the source of, and eliminate or control the biological, physical, or chemical contaminant that is provoking the health complaint. On many cases, we are recommended by and work closely with our clients’ physicians. Some of our work is the result of OSHA inquiries and regulatory compliance issues.

Most investigations are conducted by a two-person team that includes a Senior Investigator and our Chief Investigator. Our comprehensive written reports are issued within one to two weeks of the inspection and receipt of any laboratory reports. Our reports are carefully and thoughtfully written by the Senior Investigator and thoroughly reviewed by our Chief Investigator. Our reports contain only site-specific findings and recommendations and do not contain boiler plate filler material. Where remediation work is necessary, our reports include a full scope of work, in sufficient detail to be put out for bid to qualified contractors.

Microecologies^® is also actively involved in community service projects and initiatives, including the AIM (Asthma Intervention Methods) Program which we authored and are implementing in East Harlem as team members with the Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services, Inc., and the HELP (Help Eliminate Lead Poisoning) Program designed to increase lead hazard awareness and to reduce exposure to children and women of child-bearing age. Microecologies^® is partnering with the NYC Department of Health’s East Harlem Asthma Center of Excellence to provide no-fee environmental inspection and remediation services for low-income residents with family members suffering from asthma, and we are also partnering with Mt. Sinai Hospital to identify lead hazards in children’s products being sold in retail outlets (see Lead in Children’s Products). Microecologies^® is also the author of the Mold Clean-up Guidelines for Residents, and of various protocols for mold and HVAC inspection and remediation. Microecologies^® is an acknowledged contributor to the New York City Department of Health Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments, and we have also been actively involved in New Orleans area hurricane relief efforts, including writing and co-producing a training video entitled Mold Clean-up Guidance for New Orleans Area Residents Affected by Hurricane Katrina which has been adopted by the World Health Organization.

Professional Staff

William M. Sothern, MS, CIH
Certified Industrial Hygienist and Chief Investigator

William M. Sothern is a Certified Industrial Hygienist with a Master of Science degree from Hunter College in environmental and occupational health. He has been in industrial hygiene practice for the past seventeen years, with a concentration on indoor environmental issues. He is a recognized contributor to the NYC Department of Health Guidelines for the Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments and is the co-author of the NYC Housing Preservation and Development (NYC HPD) Protocols for Mold Inspections and Clean-ups. In 1993, he founded Microecologies^® Inc. to provide environmental evaluations and clean-up solutions for occupants of residen founded Microecologies^® Inc. to provide environmental evaluations and clean-up solutions for occupants of residential and commercial buildings.

Mr. Sothern is certified as a CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist) by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, an EPA certified lead inspector/risk assessor and (abatement) supervisor, a certified asbestos inspector, and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional. He has been qualified as an expert witness on cases involving environmental evaluations and exposures in the Civil Court of the City of New York, Counties of NY, Queens and Kings and in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Mr. Sothern is an active participant in community service projects, and is the primary author of the docuemnts,
publications and video discussed in the preceding section of the Microecologies^® Team - About Us page.

Kenneth Carlino, MS
Senior Investigator

Kenneth Carlino is a senior investigator for Microecologies^® Inc. with fifteen years experience in the environmental health field. Mr. Carlino provides services to building occupants and facility managers to improve indoor environmental conditions for residents and employees occupying commercial, residential and institutional buildings. He has Master of Science degree in environmental and occupational health, and was awarded a fellowship from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health while pursing his degree. He is an EPA certified lead inspector and risk assessor, a NYS certified asbestos inspector, and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.

Mr. Carlino conducts site assessments and prepares technical reports and specifications for improving the quality of living and working conditions in homes and offices. He has worked extensively in the private and public sectors investigating issues including indoor environmental quality, lead, mold, asbestos, respiratory protection, construction site safety, confined space, and hazard communication. He has participated in the inter-agency World Trade Center Health Assessment Working Group, where he coordinated the collection and analysis of lower Manhattan monitoring information and facilitated dissemination of risk assessment information to government officials, the media and the general public. He is also the principle technical author of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s and the NYC HPD’s Safe Work Practice Standards for Lead-Based Paint Remediation.

Prior to working as an environmental health professional, Mr. Carlino earned his Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing engineering technology and worked as an industrial engineer for three years.

Paul Scardino, MS
Senior Investigator

Paul Scardino is a senior investigator for Microecologies^® Inc with over twenty years of combined experience in criminal forensic and environmental investigation. He has a Masters degree in chemistry from New York University, is an EPA certified lead inspector and risk assessor, is a NYS certified asbestos inspector, and is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional. Mr. Scardino has conducted indoor environmental investigations and managed remediation projects for hundreds of our clients in cases involving water damage and mold growth, asbestos, lead-based paint, tobacco smoke infiltration, and volatile chemical vapors.

Prior to joining Microecologies^®, Mr. Scardino worked for New York City Police Department Forensic Laboratory, where he performed microscopic and instrumental analyses of trace evidence, supervised trace and controlled substance evidence examiners and analyses for adherence to laboratory SOP’s, wrote analytical procedural and training manuals, and administered the forensic laboratory’s proficiency testing and safety programs. He also worked for the Nassau County Department of Health Public Health Laboratory, where he extracted and performed instrumental analysis of soil and water samples for priority pollutants such as herbicides, pesticides, PCB’s and phthalates.

Matthew Babcock, MS
Senior Environmental Investigator

Matt Babcock is a senior investigator for Microecologies^® Inc. and has four years of environmental experience since earning his Masters degree in environmental engineering from Michigan Tech in 2006. His master’s degree research was performed in Panama and focused on the measurement and analysis of the elevated indoor air pollution levels caused by the use of traditional cook-stove technologies (three-stone res). Matt also holds a Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Manhattan College and is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.

Prior to joining Microecologies^®, Matt served in the Peace Corps as an Environmental Health Extension Agent in rural indigenous Panama focusing on issues surrounding the interconnectedness of the environment and human health. As part of this service, Matt assisted in the analysis, design, and implementation of multiple drinking water infrastructure projects in several small coastal communities, and he created and implemented educational talks regarding environmental health topics and community organization.

Since joining Microecologies^® in 2007, Matt has conducted indoor environmental investigations and managed remediation projects on over four hundred residential and commercial cases involving the assessment and remediaremediation projects on over four hundred residential and commercial cases involving the assessment and remediation of spaces affected by water damage and mold growth conditions and the assessment and control of environmental tobacco smoke and chemical vapors. Matt has also been involved with Microecologies^® community service efforts, including work with WE-ACT on proposed changes to the International Building Code, work with the NYS Toxic Mold Task Force, and work with Senator Liz Krueger’s office on proposed NYS mold legislation.

Arthur Lau, BS, CMI
General Manager

Arthur Lau is the General Manager of Microecologies^® and has been with the company since 1996. For over a decade, he has performed thousands of inspections alongside Certified Industrial Hygienist and Chief Investigator Bill Sothern on projects involving water damage and mold growth, hygienic problems in HVAC systems, secondhand tobacco smoke and other odor/chemical vapor complaints, and demolition/renovation dust in filtration problems. He has had extensive experience collecting air/surface samples for laboratory analysis of mold, bacteria, asbestos, lead, crystalline silica, berglass, pet allergens, various chemical vapors, and other contaminants. He has also overseen many mold remediation projects. Arthur holds a Bachelors degree in Biology from Vassar College and is an American Council for Accredited Certification (formerly American Indoor Air Quality Council) Certified Microbial Investigator, an EPA certified lead-based paint inspector, a NYS certified asbestos air sampling technician, and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.

Gustavo Lezama, CMRS
Remediation Contracting Manager

Gustavo Lezama is the Remediation Contracting Manager for Microecologies^® and has been with the company since 2001. He has performed thousands of mold remediation and HVAC hygienic maintenance projects, and has been the site supervisor on most of these projects. In 2005-2006, Gustavo was part of a Microecologies^® team that assisted New Orleans area residents with mold assessments and remediation following Hurricane Katrina. He is an American Council for Accredited Certification (formerly American Indoor Air Quality Council) Certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS), a NYS certified asbestos air sampling technician, and holds an EPA refrigerant certification.