【Background】The problem of heavy metal contamination in soil is recoganised as a especially serious threat to the environment, food safety and human health. Acute toxicity data are not available for all heavy metals. 【Method】The acute toxicity effects of copper (Cu2+), zinc (Zn2+), nickel (Ni+), cadmium (Cd2+), lead (Pb2+) and manganese (Mn2+) to the earthworm, Eisenia foetida Savigny, were determined by using the filter paper contact method and the artificial soil method. The environmental risk was assessed according to the Directive 91/414/EEC of the European Community． 【Result】The results of filter paper contact method at 48 h showed that the LC50 values of 6 heavy metals to E.foetida, were in the range of 3.17（2.53~3.81）~90.42 （69.45~140.47） μg·cm-2, and the toxicity order was Cu2+>Zn2+>Ni+>Cd2+>Pb2+>Mn2+. When using the artificial soil method, after 14 d exposure, the acute toxicity of 6 heavy metals to E.foetida (LC50) was 1347 （1236~1453）~6936 （6144~8930） mg·kg-1, and the toxicity order of the six metals was Cu2+>Cd2+> Ni+>Zn2+>Mn2+>Pb2+. The toxicity/exposure ratio (TER） of Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Mn2+ were 3.37, 4.46, 8.68, 1428, 13.87 and 5.85, respectively. 【Conclusion and significance】All 6 heavy metals had potential toxic effects on the earthworm. Based on the environmental quality standard for soils of China, the data of environmental risk assessment showed Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni+ and Mn2+ had potential acute risk to E.foetida, and the acute risk of Cd2+ and Pb2+ were acceptable. The results may provide useful reference information for China to develop risk based environmental quality standard for soils.