Microecologies, inc.

For allergic diseases, including asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and other immune system-mediated conditions, the offending allergen is often hiding silently in unseen places, even in the most meticulously maintained homes. Most often, the culprit we find in our expert home inspections is hidden mold. The notorious toxic black mold Stachybotrys (see below) may be hiding behind water-damaged sheetrock walls or beneath wood flooring. We also find the lesser-known Penicillium molds that can provoke asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and interstitial lung disease hiding in dark and damp places, including HVAC systems and basements. While pharmaceuticals can be effective in controlling symptoms of mold exposure, we have demonstrated in thousands of cases that conducting an in-depth mold inspection to identify where the mold is growing, eliminating the moisture source, and remediating the mold conditions have substantially or completely resolved our clients’ symptoms, reducing their dependence on medication.
Voted NY metro area’s best mold inspector by New York Magazine 2008 and 2022. Recommended by NYC’s leading Pulmonologists at Weill Cornell Medicine, Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYU Langone Health, Lenox Hill Hospital, and Northwell Health.

The Hidden Mold Problem

What you see…

What we find…

What Makes Us Different?

We are a small group of highly trained, credentialed, and experienced mold inspectors and indoor air quality inspectors (see team). Our inspectors also have an in-depth knowledge of building construction and mechanical systems, which gives us an unusual ability to find hidden mold growth, identify water intrusion sources, and write site-specific scopes of work to eliminate the mold and HVAC hygiene problems that are provoking our clients’ health symptoms. Our highly qualified environmental health practitioners provide our clients and their physicians with expert interpretations of mold testing results. Over the past 30+ years, we have conducted over 10,000 mold inspections and comprehensive indoor air quality inspections in response to occupant health concerns, and we have used this knowledge to help each client we serve and to benefit the greater public health interests.

Using Practice to Inform Mold Research, Mold Policy,
and Mold Law

Authors of and Contributors to Mold Research and Government Mold Guidelines

Annals of the American Thoracic Society (2022) Misalignment between Clinical Mold Antigen Extracts and Airborne Molds Found in Water-damaged Homes

NYCDOHMH (2008) Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments

NYC Local Law 13 (2014) Prohibits the use of paper-faced gypsum board (AKA sheetrock) in bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms NYC building code (adopted from Local Law 13)

NIEHS Disaster Recovery Guidelines – Mold Remediation (2013)

WHO (2006) National Centers for Healthy Housing, Guidance Video for New Orleans Area Residents Affected by Hurricane Katrina

Experts in the Science of the Black Mold Stachybotrys chartarum

The current consensus of scientific research holds that it is implausible that humans could be exposed to Stachybotrys chartarum (aka black mold) and the mycotoxins it produces (Satratoxin G & H) at levels that would be necessary to provoke the widely reported neurological symptoms (chronic fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, difficulty concentrating) reported by people exposed to this black mold. Our review of the published scientific literature finds that such an association may indeed be plausible but will need to be validated by well-designed animal studies mimicking the long-term chronic exposures that people living in homes contaminated with Stachybotrys chartarum actually experience. This finding is amplified by a pilot study that represents a preliminary analysis of our most recent 3000 client files where laboratory testing was conducted, and our clients’ health symptoms were recorded, and the analysis of our findings shows a strongly elevated risk of experiencing neurological symptoms when exposed to Stachybotrys chartarum relative to being exposed to other molds.

Other Indoor Environmental Services

We are also experts in the science of:

No conflict of interest. We are expert investigators and remediation planners, but do not conduct remediation contracting work. Upon request, we will provide our clients with a list of qualified and trusted remediation contractors.

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