**2.1 Emerging contaminants from agricultural activities**

Emerging Contaminants are released to the agricultural environment via different pathways. They may be released to the environment directly (veterinary medicines that are used in the treatment of animals at pasture) or enter indirectly to the soil during the application of manure, biosolids or other solid waste materials. Once they enter the soil, they may be transported by leaching, runoff and drainage processes to water bodies. The extent of the transport is dependent on the persistence of the EC and on how it interacts with soil and air.
