Abstract: With the intense industrial development and with the indiscriminate use of fertiliser and pesticides, soils in most part of the world have shown elevated levels of metals concentration. There is concern that metals present above certain levels in the soil may affect agricultural production. Furthermore, metals deposition in the soil might be a potential source of their introduction into food chain. Microbial parameters appear to be useful in monitoring soil metal pollution and could provide an early warning of deteriorating soil quality. Microbial activities and processes like soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass C, metabolic quotient (qCO2), biomass N, community structure, N mineralisation, organic matter decomposition and enzymatic activities have been successfully used for studying metals effect on soil quality. This review, however, discussed the effects of soil metal pollution on microbial respiration, biomass carbon and metabolic quotient only. Short- and long-term studies and studies carried out under different environmental conditions were considered. Metals availability and toxicity differs in soil with different physicochemical properties. Effects of metals on microbial activity in soils with contrasting properties were also reviewed.