Abstract: Heavy metals are potentially toxic to human life and the environment. Hence, determining the chemical form of a metal in soils is important to evaluate its mobility and bio availability. Sequential extraction was used to fractionate four heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb) from six contaminated soils into six operationally defined groups: water-soluble, exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxide, organic and residual. Analysis of the extracts was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Cu was predominantly associated with Fe-Mn oxide and residual, the carbonate fraction of Cd represents more than 70% of the total Cd found in the soils, and this percentage is much greater than that of other elements examined. A major portion (>60%) of Zn was associated with the Fe-Mn oxide and carbonate fractions, whereas Pb was largely associated with organic matter and Fe-Mn oxide fractions with significant amounts in the carbonate and residual fractions. The results were interpreted in terms of the environmental mobility and bioavailability of the metals.