There is limited literature data on   Storage of compost . Oral contamination through contaminated hands is possible for biological and chemical contaminants . This risk is particularly pronounced for children . Studies have shown that a child may ingest as much as 100 mg / day of dust from the soil , and when the child suffers from geophagy -or pica -(pathologic exaggeration of the hand - mouth behaviour ) this may increase up to 5 g [ 82,83 ] . Environmental contamination may result from open air storage of compost or under bad or inadequate protection which exposes it to rain . Pollutants are then washed by rain and carried along by water run - off or spread by percolation into the soil . Wind may also disperse inadequately stored composts . The storage of immature compost also provokes the emanation of a nauseating odor .