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.

在许多流行病学研究中，已将移动电话用作射频电磁场（RF-EMF）暴露的暴露替代物。但是，通过手机使用进行RF-EMF暴露评估很容易产生测量误差，从而限制了流行病学研究。一个经常被忽视的方面是从基站接收到的信号强度水平及其与移动电话发射（Tx）功率的相关性。Qualipoc android手机是一款可提供有关信号强度和Tx功率的信息的工具。电话会同时测量3G和4G网络上的接收信号强度指示器（RSSI），参考信号接收功率（RSRP），接收信号代码功率（RSCP）和Tx功率。在大墨尔本地区进行的测量发现信号强度范围很广。通过针对3G和4G数据技术（3G RSSI -0.93，RSCP -0.93； 4G RSSI -0.85，RSRP -0.87）发现的强负相关性，评估了多个信号强度指标与Tx功率之间的相关性。量化了在信号强度的分类级别上Tx功率的变化，并显示了随着信号级别的降低，Tx功率大幅度增加。未来的流行病学研究应控制信号强度或影响信号强度的因素，以减少RF-EMF暴露测量误差。