Relationships of Permafrost to Sanitation— Alter 251 



be applied. Research, investigation and a fuller understanding 

 of permafrost and related factors are essential to environmental 

 sanitation in the permafrost regions. 



Summary 



Reports of general prevalence of filthborne disease in the 

 permafrost regions indicate a significant need for environmental 

 health control in this section of the world. The existence of 

 permafrost complicates provision of safe and adequate water 

 supplies. Proper disposal of sewage, garbage and refuse is diffi- 

 cult in areas where the ground is permanently frozen. Severe 

 frost action, lack of soil drainage and resultant threats to the 

 stability of buildings make many Arctic homes unsatisfactory. 

 Inadequate drainage of the vast Arctic slopes is closely related 

 to the existence of permafrost and results in provision of end- 

 less breeding areas for insects. However, permafrost does pro- 

 vide inexpensive refrigeration for food for both man and animal 

 in many parts of the Arctic. 



Environmental health control in the permafrost regions, re- 

 quires learning the laws of permafrost behavior and devising 

 economical ways to use them to the greatest advantage. Through 

 further investigation and research and careful evaluation and 

 use of knowledge at hand, we will find further means of over- 

 coming present obstacles. 



REFERENCES 



1. Ackerknecht, Edwin H. The Eskimo. Ciba Symposia, 10 (1). 



July- August, 1948. 



2. Alter, A. J. Water supply problems of the Arctic. Alaska's 



Health, 7 (3). March, 1949. 



3. . Arctic sanitary engineering. Alaska Department of 



Health. Juneau. June, 1949. 



Water supply in Alaska. Jour. American Water Works 



Assoc, 42 (6): 519-532. June, 1950. 

 Anonymous. Beretning fra den af sundhedsstyrelsen til Gron- 

 land udsendte Legeekspedition. Beretninger Vedrorende 

 Gronlands Styrelse, Nr. 1, 1949. 



