Why Land Buyers in Florida Need to Be Aware
The Overlooked History Behind Florida’s Rural Land
Florida’s picturesque equestrian estates, agricultural tracts, and rural residential lots often sit on land with a long agricultural history. Many of these parcels were once citrus groves, heavily treated with lead arsenate pesticide from the early 1900s to the 1960s.
Why This Matters for Today’s Buyers
Though those citrus trees are long gone, the lead and arsenic compounds sprayed into the soil remain. These toxic substances degrade slowly and can pose serious health, legal, and financial risks for modern landowners.
Lead Arsenate: A Persistent Environmental Contaminant
What It Was and Why It Was Used
Lead arsenate was once the industry standard insecticide for citrus groves in Florida. Farmers applied it directly to crops and surrounding soil to combat pests. Today, this practice has left a toxic footprint on thousands of acres now being sold for development, homesteads, or equestrian use.
What Makes It Dangerous
Lead binds to soil particles and arsenic may leach into shallow groundwater. Together, they present long-term threats to humans, animals, crops, and property value.
Who Should Be Concerned?
Prospective Land Buyers
If you are considering buying acreage, building a home, or starting an equestrian facility, especially in Central or South Florida, understanding prior land use is essential.
Real Estate Agents and Developers
Those representing or subdividing land may face disclosure and liability risks if soil contamination is discovered after a transaction.
Families and Agricultural Users
From gardening to livestock, land uses involving direct contact with soil can result in exposure if the property was previously treated with lead arsenate.
How to Investigate Before You Buy
Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs)
A Phase I ESA includes a historical review and site walk-through. If red flags are identified, a Phase II ESA will include lab testing for lead and arsenic concentrations in the soil.
Lead over 400 ppm or arsenic over 0.39 ppm may trigger remediation requirements.
Protect your future investment with a professional site contamination assessment.
Visual Cues Aren’t Enough
Land may appear untouched or well-maintained, but legacy pesticide contamination is invisible and odorless. Testing is the only reliable method to identify risk.
What You Can Do If Contamination Is Found
Common Remediation Options
Soil removal and replacement for highly contaminated areas
Capping or covering soil with clean topsoil, mulch, or sod
Restricting use of land to non-intrusive purposes
Cost, Responsibility, and Planning
The financial burden for cleanup often falls on the current property owner unless disclosure or negligence is proven. Early testing allows informed negotiation or development planning.
Conclusion: A Must-Know Issue for Florida Land Buyers
Florida’s beautiful rural lands can hold hidden risks beneath the surface. Understanding the history of lead arsenate pesticide use on citrus groves is crucial before committing to a purchase.
A simple environmental assessment could save you tens of thousands in remediation and protect the health of your family, animals, and land value.
Buying Florida land? Get peace of mind with a thorough environmental site evaluation.