Why We Started Boulder Blue, by Noah Fierer

Like many people, I suffer from allergies. There are many days where I feel unexpectedly tired with itchy eyes, a persistent headache, and clogged sinuses. These days are not fun.

I noticed many years ago that my allergy symptoms varied when I moved between different indoor spaces. When I woke up after sleeping at home I felt bad, but when I went to my office for a long day at work, my symptoms miraculously cleared up. It turns out my anecdotal observations were echoed by many friends and colleagues. There just seem to be certain indoor spaces that are more likely to trigger allergies.

Since I'm a scientist who has long studied airborne microorganisms, I wondered if these differences could be attributed to the levels of mold spores found in different buildings. Unfortunately, I could not find a test I trusted to provide reliable information on the amounts and types of allergens in my home. I wanted to know if the air inside my home was triggering my allergies, and I was frustrated that I couldn't answer that question. Thus, Boulder Blue was born.

We combined our extensive experience using DNA-based methods to build a testing platform that makes it possible to quantify concentrations of allergenic molds and pollens in indoor air. Since then, I have used the test on my own home and found that, indeed, my home was loaded with mold spores, with most of those molds appearing to come from inside my home. The most likely source was a perpetually damp crawlspace under the main living area. I have since lined the crawlspace, eliminated the source of moisture, and installed an air purifier, which dramatically reduced allergen loads in my home.

Is my life now allergy-free? No. When I go outside or into certain buildings, my allergies may return. But at least I now feel a lot better when I wake up in the morning in my own home.