Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) microarrays are widely used for differential expression studies and for detection of virulence genes in pure bacterial cultures. Their use in complex microbial samples, such as soil and wastewater, has been relatively less studied. This report presents the results of a systematic effort to apply DNA microarrays to pathogen detection and to bacterial source tracking (BST) in wastewater. Parameters such as the method of DNA extraction from the samples, the type of immobilized probe (whether polymerase chain reaction [PCR] amplicons or oligonucleotides), the length and method of immobilization of oligonucleotides, the method of DNA labelling, the combination of PCR amplification with microarray hybridization and the choice of PCR targets have been optimized. Results indicate that the combination of PCR followed by microarray hybridization can detect pathogens in wastewater samples down to a 0.1% detection limit. The use of microarrays for bacterial source tracking gave promising results on human samples, however the probes used in this study only provided signals for general indicators of fecal contamination when used on samples of animal origin. The overall conclusion is that microarray technology has not yet reached the stage of routine use for microbiological analysis of wastewater. This report demonstrates: That the hybridization of total genomic DNA on microarrays has a high detection limit, of the order of 10^7 genomes; That the use of long oligonucleotides or PCR amplicons from 16S rDNA, or cpn60 probes has insufficient specificity to differentiate several important pathogens, especially within the Enterobacteriaceae family; That the use of short oligonucleotide immobilized probes coupled with PCR amplification of conserved genes, such as 16S rDNA, cpn60, or wecE, can detect pathogens in wastewater down to a 0.1% (DNA weight/weight) concentration; and The potential of DNA microarrays in BST, even if further research work remains necessary to achieve this goal.

Desalination Technology: Health and Environmental Impacts covers the latest developments in desalination, examining the environmental and public health-related impacts of these technologies. Written by international experts, the text presents specifications for assessing water quality, technical issues associated with desalination technologies, and the chemical aspects of desalinated water and its microbiology.

The book also discusses environmental protection issues that assist in the optimization of proposed and existing desalination facilities to ensure that nations and consumers enjoy the benefits of the expanded access to desalinated water. This includes coverage of health and environmental issues such as energy conservation and sustainability as well as protection of delicate coastal ecosystems and groundwater from contamination by surface disposal of concentrates-challenges that must be addressed during the design, construction, and operation of a desalination facility.

Development of new and improved desalinization technologies, including major cost reduction trends, have significantly broadened the opportunities to access large quantities of safe water in many parts of the world. And while there are many books available on desalination, this book's unusual approach blends technical coverage of the latest technologies with coverage of the environmental and public health-related impacts of these technologies, setting it apart from other resources. It provides technical guidance based on the practical expertise of a balanced group of international scientists and engineers.