en Toxicology Toxicology پژوهشي Orginal research papers <span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">Microplastics (MPs) have become a significant environmental concern globally, with their pervasive presence in various ecosystems posing threats to marine life and human health. This study investigates the MPs contamination in a gastropod species <i>Nerita albicilla</i> found commonly along the Karachi coast. A total of 60 individuals of <i>N. albicilla, </i>5<i> </i>specimens from each site monthly<i> </i>were handpicked from the intertidal area of Hawksbay and Buleiji rocky shore from November 2022- April 2023. The shells were noted for morphometrics and visceral <span style="background:white">tissues were digested in 10% KOH solution in a ratio of 3</span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span cambria="" math="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">∶</span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">1. </span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">Each digested suspension was filtered using 0.45 &micro;m organic filter paper and observed with the help of a compound microscope. A total of 64 MPs (1.4&plusmn;0.244- 3.6&plusmn;0.678 item ind.^&minus;1) were recorded from 30 <i>N. albicilla </i>specimens<i> </i>collected from Hawksbay and 59 MPs (1.4&plusmn;0.4 - 3&plusmn;0.632 item ind.^&minus;1) from Buleji. The most dominant MPs types were microfibers, which made up to 84% and 88 % of total MPs at Hawksaby and Buleji, respectively whereas the most of MPs ranged in size range of 0-25 &micro;m indicating anthropogenic pollution sources such as textiles, fishing gears,&nbsp;<span style="background:white">and synthetic materials commonly found in marine environments.</span> The study underscores the ecological significance of gastropods in monitoring marine pollution and highlights the urgent need for mitigation measures to safeguard coastal ecosystems.</span></span></span> Microplastics, Nerita albicilla, Hawksbay, Buleiji, Morphometric characteristics, Plastic pollution, Marine gastropods, Karachi coast 937 948 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-5000-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 H. Tariq hina.tariq107@gmail.com 100319475328460052654 100319475328460052654 No IInsitute of Marine Science, University of Karachi, Pakistan N. Arshad narshad@uok.edu.pk 100319475328460052655 100319475328460052655 Yes Insitute of Marine Science, University of Karachi, Pakistan M. Taha tahaalikhi@gmail.com 100319475328460052656 100319475328460052656 No Insitute of Marine Science, University of Karachi, Pakistan M.B. Su'ud mazliham@mmu.edu.my 100319475328460052657 100319475328460052657 No Multimedia University M.M. Alam m.mansoor@riphah.edu.pk 100319475328460052658 100319475328460052658 No Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan A.A. Muhammad asadcemb@gmail.com 100319475328460052659 100319475328460052659 No Coastal Development and Fisheries Department, Government of Balochistan, Pakistan