# Hammond ELF/EMF Occupational Health Pilot — One Experiment

### NW Indiana SBDC × Anthrocybernetics | May 26, 2026

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## The One Ask

**SBDC support letter** for the Purdue Research Foundation Alliances inquiry — specifically a letter endorsing our pilot methodology as a regionally significant economic development research initiative.

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## The Experiment

**Hypothesis:** Small businesses in the Hammond corridor (near the Unilever plant and the newly electrified Monon Corridor / South Shore Line) experience measurable organizational stress and reduced workforce performance correlated with ELF/EMF and infrasound exposure from industrial and rail sources.

**Null hypothesis:** No statistically significant correlation between measured ELF/EMF exposure and small business performance metrics.

**Method:**
1. **Baseline:** 8–10 small businesses in the Hammond corridor, within 1.5 km of the Monon Corridor
2. **Measure:** ELF/EMF field strength (0–300 Hz) + infrasound (2–20 Hz) at each business location, twice daily for 4 weeks
3. **Assess:** Organizational performance via nine-domain anthrocybernetic survey (employee self-assessment, team coherence score, sick days, productivity proxy)
4. **Correlate:** Field measurements vs. organizational health data
5. **Phase inversion test:** Apply commercially available ELF/EMF counter-wave device at 2–3 sites; before/after comparison of organizational metrics

**Design standards (addressing Copilot feedback):**
- *Blinding:* Participants and field technicians are not blinded (exposure is visible in the environment). Data analysts are blinded to site identity.
- *Sample size:* 8–10 businesses is a feasibility study — not powered for statistical significance on health outcomes. We are testing feasibility and generating preliminary correlation data.
- *Primary outcomes:* Pre-registered as: (1) correlation between measured ELF/EMF exposure and organizational performance metrics; (2) feasibility of deploying nine-domain anthrocybernetic assessment in small business context.
- *Limitation statement:* This study is exploratory. It will not establish causation. It will generate a dataset suitable for a properly powered Phase II study.

**Deliverable:** Peer-reviewable dataset + recommendation for Phase II intervention study.

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## Equipment — Acquire Existing Technology

The field measurement and phase inversion equipment is **off-the-shelf commercial**, not custom-built:

| Purpose | Equipment type | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ELF/EMF field measurement | Low-frequency spectrum analyzer (0–300 Hz) | Already deployed in HVAC/industrial safety contexts; ~$2,000–$8,000 |
| Infrasound detection | Thermophone sensor array or calibrated condenser mic | Already proven in Hammond infrasound study |
| Phase inversion/counter-wave | Modulated ELF emitter configured for destructive interference | Available from laboratory suppliers; the key is that existing technology can be adapted |

**Key point:** We are not building new instruments. We are acquiring and applying existing measurement + mitigation equipment in a novel occupational health context. This reduces cost and accelerates timeline.

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## Partner Integration

| Partner | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| **CIVS (Purdue Northwest)** | Simulation, visualization, methodology design, PNW student research assistants | To be engaged |
| **Frank Mrvan (IN-1)** | Congressional support, workforce development funding, constituent visibility | Election year — high value engagement |
| **SBDC (Eric Beschinski)** | Referral letter, regional business network, pilot site connections | Primary meeting contact |
| **Indiana SBIR/IEDC** | Phase I funding pathway ($50k–$75k non-dilutive) | iedc.in.gov/sbir |
| **Unilever Hammond** | Anchor employer near test zone; potential worksite pilot | To be approached after SBDC/Mrvan alignment |

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## Timeline

| When | What |
|---|---|
| **May 26** | SBDC meeting — support letter secured, Mrvan ask formalized |
| **June** | CIVS partnership meeting; equipment acquisition begins |
| **July–August** | Field measurement campaign, baseline organizational assessments |
| **September** | Phase inversion deployment at select sites; interim data analysis |
| **October** | Peer-reviewable dataset ready; Mrvan report / congressional briefing |

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## Why This Works for SBDC

- **Concrete, measurable** — not theoretical
- **Small business focus** — SBDC's mission
- **NWI specificity** — Monon Corridor is 60 days old; no one else is measuring its occupational health impact
- **Non-dilutive funding** — SBIR/IEDC pathway, no equity dilution
- **CIVS partnership** — Purdue credibility, student workforce development angle
- **Mrvan alignment** — workforce health in Hammond is his bread and butter; this is a win for his constituency

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## What SBDC Gets

A letter of support positions Eric Beschinski and the NW Indiana SBDC as ahead of the curve on a new occupational health category that will hit the region's small business community within 2–3 years. This is exactly the kind of forward-looking economic development intelligence the SBDC network is built to surface.

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*Prepared: 2026-05-25 | ghojualamanchu research collective*
*Reference: Hammond Infrasound Findings — https://zo.pub/tenchi/hammond-findings/*