Abstract
In many epidemiological studies mobile phone use has been used as an exposure proxy for radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure. However, RF-EMF exposure assessment from mobile phone use is prone to measurement errors limiting epidemiological research. An often-overlooked aspect is received signal strength levels from base stations and its correlation with mobile phone transmit (Tx) power. The Qualipoc android phone is a tool that provides information on both signal strength and Tx power. The phone produces simultaneous measurements of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Code Power (RSCP), and Tx power on the 3G and 4G networks. Measurements taken in the greater Melbourne area found a wide range of signal strength levels. The correlations between multiple signal strength indicators and Tx power were assessed with strong negative correlations found for 3G and 4G data technologies (3G RSSI -0.93, RSCP -0.93; 4G RSSI -0.85, RSRP -0.87). Variations in Tx power over categorical levels of signal strength were quantified and showed large increases in Tx power as signal level decreased. Future epidemiological studies should control for signal strength or factors influencing signal strength to reduce RF-EMF exposure measurement error.
Highlights
Radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures from mobile phones and other RF-EMF emitting devices such as base stations, Wi-Fi routers, laptops, and tablet computers, have become ubiquitous
Near field exposure occurs from RF-EMF devices that emit in close proximity to the body e.g. personal mobile phone use, laptops, tablets, etc. and results in sporadic exposure
The participants gathered between 33 and 39 h of data each for a combined total of 146 h. This provided 1,445,121 simultaneous measurements at an average of one every 364 ms for Tx power, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), and Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Received Signal Code Power (RSCP) depending on which data technology was in use
Summary
Radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures from mobile (cellular) phones and other RF-EMF emitting devices such as base stations, Wi-Fi routers, laptops, and tablet computers, have become ubiquitous. The. World Health Organization has identified RF-EMF exposure research as a high priority [2]. RF-EMF exposure can be categorised as either near field or far field. Near field exposure occurs from RF-EMF devices that emit in close proximity to the body e.g. personal mobile phone use, laptops, tablets, etc. Far field exposure from base stations, Wi-Fi routers, FM radio, other mobile phone users, etc. Occur from larger distances, resulting in a much lower, but more constant level of RF-EMF exposure. Near field sources are responsible for the bulk of RF-EMF exposure, with personal mobile phone calls responsible for the largest amount of RF-EMF exposure to the brain [3]
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