Abstract
This study was carried out to determine some physicochemical properties and heavy metals level in primary school playground located in Benin City, Southern Nigeria using standard methods. A total of 10 topsoil samples were collected from five primary school playgrounds from different locations in Benin metropolis, Southern Nigeria in February, 2017. The mean levels of pH and EC ranged from 5.53 to 7.02 and 200.05 - 410.00 µS/cm respectively. The mean concentrations for heavy metals ranged from 337.15±64.28 and 464.10±19.37 for Fe, 23.40±7.50 and 29.70±4.81 for Mn, 45.95±8.70 and 67.95±4.74 for Zn, 8.48±1.61 and 12.90±3.82 for Cu, 5.10±2.33 and 7.41±1.54 for Cd, 4.42±2.02 and 8.39±7.09 for Cr, 6.17±2.82 and 13.82±6.76 for Pb, 0.99±0.09 and3.24±3.73 for Ni respectively. Heavy metal concentrations were in the following order. In Ogiegbaen, Eresoyen and Ekosodin Primary schools (PS) playground, the order was Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Pb> Cd> Cr> Ni while the order in Agbado PS and Olua PS were Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Pb> Cr> Cd> Ni and Fe> Zn> Mn> Pb> Cu> Cd> Cr> Ni respectively. Enrichment factor (EF), Contamination factor (CF) and Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were used to evaluate the pollution status of the soil. 
 Keywords: Topsoil, Playground, Heavy metals, Assessment Indices
Highlights
Soil parent material imparts a natural range of concentration of metals including heavy metals in soil
No report currently exist on the status of contamination of public schools playgrounds by heavy metals in Benin City in spite of the fact that these playgrounds present themselves as appropriate targets for the accumulation of heavy metals because of the bare nature of the soil
The concentrations of all the heavy metals analyzed in this study showed no significant difference (p>0.05) across the primary schools playgrounds
Summary
Study Location Area: This research was conducted in Benin City, Edo State (6o20’00N, 5o37’20E) (Fig. 1). Criteria such as population activity, traffic density and road sections were considered while selecting the sample sites. Sample digestion and the determination of the heavy metal concentration were carried out according to the method of the Association of Analytical Chemists, (AOAC, 2000). Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Contamination Factor (CF): The contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) are expressed as follows: CF It is assessed as the ratio obtained by dividing the concentration of each metal in the soil by baseline or background value (concentration in uncontaminated soil): CFmetal. Class 0 (practically unpolluted): Igeo ≤ 0; Class 1 (unpolluted to moderately polluted): 0
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