Shaza Mehboob ^* Khalid Mahmood Anjum ^* Hamda Azmat ^* Muhammad Imran ^*

• University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

Plastics are globally considered a significant threat, particularly to metropolitan areas, due to the extensive use of plastic products. This research is the first of its kind to document microplastics contamination and its effects on Red wettled lapwing (Vanellus indicus). The concentration of microplastics (MPs) was measured from surface water at different locations including canals and drains, which are the primary sources of MPs pollution in the metropolitan city Lahore, Pakistan. The highest MPs concentration was recorded in the main stream of the Ravi River, with an average concentration of 5150 ± 7.5 particles/m³.In addition, considering the different shapes of MPs, fibers were found to be most abundant at Site I (Main Stream of River Ravi), with the highest mean concentration of 92.4±0.3 particles/m³, whereas the lowest mean concentration of 29.9±0.1particles/m³ was observed. In contrast, fragments were predominant at Site II (Shahdara Drain), with the highest and lowest mean concentrations of 42.6±0.3 and 21.7±0.1particles/m³, respectively. Chemical analysis revealed that most fragments, fibers; and beads belonged to the polyethylene class, while sheets were categorized as polypropylene and foam as polystyrene. The frequency of occurrence (%FO; prevalence) of plastics in necropsied birds was 89.7%. A total of 120 items were analyzed: 64 fibers, 23 fragments, 10 pieces of foam, 14 pieces of sheet, and 9 beads. Quantitative and qualitative histopathological analyses were performed to examine variations in prevalence percentage, frequency, and histological alteration indices (HAI) as a consequence of MPs exposure on the health of wild species. The study evaluated the impacts of ingested MPs, which induced inflammatory and anatomical responses in V. indicus. Significant tissue damage was observed, including considerable inflammatory responses, evident cellular swelling in many renal tubular epithelial cells, and pyknotic nuclei, which were major causes of necrosis and apoptosis.Prevalence percentage and frequency were significantly higher at Site I compared to Site II. The highest prevalence percentages in the liver and kidneys were 90% and 85%, respectively, manifesting as degeneration of hepatocytes and necrosis in renal tubular epithelial cells in response to 0.5-1 mm sized MPs.