Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants characterized by high hydrophobicity and specific surface area, which facilitate the adsorption of pollutants. Among MPs, glitter is commonly found in cosmetics, handicrafts, and special coatings. Glitters come in various shapes and sizes and are primarily composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They typically have a metal coating (e.g., Al, Ti, Fe, or Bi) which is responsible for their high reflectivity; these metals can be released during the degradation process. In the present study, a market survey and a questionnaire were conducted targeting both young and mature populations to analyze glitter usage habits and the level of awareness regarding its environmental effects. The survey identifies the most common types of glitter available on the market and those most likely to be released into the environment. Among the various commercial glitters, a type made of PET, hexagonal in shape and silver in color, was selected and characterized using a stereomicroscope and a microscope based on the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR). To assess the environmental impact of the selected glitter, ecotoxicity experiments were conducted using the model species Procambarus clarkii from Lake Trasimeno.  After acclimating in lake water for 30 days, the crayfish were exposed to different concentrations of glitter over four weeks. The study investigates the accumulation of glitter in the gastrointestinal tract of crayfish and examines the dynamics of metal release from glitter into the experimental waters. Glitter particles ranging from 0 to 4800 items per gastrointestinal tract were observed. Untreated and preconditioned glitter samples showed different elemental (metals and metalloids) concentrations, indicating that conditioning can alter the chemical profile through leaching or enrichment processes. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential toxicological effects of these MPs on exposed aquatic organisms.