The soil at my former house (built around 1920) on a major street in a large college town, next to a bus stop, tested for significantly elevated lead and PCBs.

The soil at my former house (built around 1920) on a major street in a large college town, next to a bus stop, tested for significantly elevated lead and PCBs. I believe the soil on the other side of the building tested much closer to normal for the area. I would test if there is even the slightest concern of contamination. Eating a few garden veggies here and there likely won't have much of an impact on an adult. If you're regularly supplementing your meals and/or feeding children, you may want to be more cautious. At my current house on a busier, older street, I wouldn't consider eating anything grown in the soil. Most near me seem to use raised beds or the community garden.