When I was seven years old, my family moved to a subdivision in Concord, California that was built on land that had been a walnut orchard. It was the first subdivision to be built in that agricultural area. Across the street from our subdivision, abandoned walnut trees were still standing, and it was not unusual for us to play in the orchards.
Many years later, a nutritionist I went to asked me if I had lived on land that had previously been an orchard. I had excessive copper in my body from the pesticides used there.
This morning an article was released about contaminated soil from abandoned Washington apple orchards. 187,000 acres.
OPB: Contaminated Soil Lingers Where Apples Once Grew
If you live in a home that is built on land that has previously been an orchard, your land is probably contaminated. Your county government should have data about the historical use of the land.
If so, your children should not be playing in the dirt, and vegetables grown in the soil will be contaminated. If you want to grow your own food, do so in containers with uncontaminated potting soil.
I live in Concord on what use to be walnut orchard. My daughter ate a lot of dirt on the property as a toddler and since has “autism”, but her symptoms do not fit the diagnosis. Now reading this article you wrote, I know what steps to take. Finally in the midst of many different types of tests she is having, I can get the soil tested and have the doctor test her for lead. We also live next to a gas station and there is a fuel tank buried on our property.