In the majority of cases the most direct risk would currently be considered adverse effects to consumers of crops (humans and animals) by virtue of uptake by crops or contamination of crops. An important risk at heavily amended sites is that of groundwater pollution. Many countries in Europe rely heavily on groundwater for drinking water and irrigation water. Persistent contaminants in groundwater can eventually reach and potentially pollute surface waters. According to the European Commission, the quantity of water available per human being has dropped by 40% since 1970 and two out of five people living on the planet.
