Heavy Metals, Soil Contamination, Earthworms, Bioaccumulation, Environmental Pollution, Playground Soils,

This study was carried out to determine heavy metal levels and distribution in soils and earthworm in selected primary and nursery schools namely, Owina school, Olua school, Ubth staff school, Calvary crown and Impact academy, located in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of ten (10) soil sample and thirty (30) earthworms were collected from five school; particularly the playground area in Benin City, Nigeria. Seven (7) heavy metals were examined in this study namely: Iron, Zinc, Chromium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Cadmium. The mean concentration of metals in soils ranged from 14.56-121.3 mg/kg for Fe, 5.98-43.22 mg/kg for Zn, 1.56 -15.44 mg/kg for Cr, 0.73 - 19.26 mg/kg for Cu, 0.38 - 1.44 mg/kg for Pb, 2.16 - 4.28 mg/kg for Ni and 0.012 - 0.04 mg/kg for Cd. While the mean concentration of metals in earthworm ranged from 49.45-95.73 mg/kg for Fe, 18.93 - 108.7 mg/kg for Zn, 1.86 - 5.74 mg/kg for Cr, 6.47 - 50.27 mg/kg for Cu, 0.23 - 0.63 mg/kg for Pb, 0.22 - 0.62 mg/kg for Ni and 0.04 - 0.14 mg/kg for Cd.The value recorded in soils were observed to be higher in comparison to the values in earthworms. The highest mean value in soils was recorded in Owina school and the lowest was recorded in Ubth staff school while the highest mean value in earthworm was recorded in Olua school and the lowest in Impact academy. Much attention should be given to heavy metals because oftheir high toxicity potential in children, their widespread use and their prevalenc