Springtails are known to include many ice-dwelling species. On the ice-surface, springtail populations can reach densities and biomasses that are worth of notice, up to 155 000 individuals per square metre, with a dry biomass reaching values of 151.90 μg/cm2. In harsh environments like glaciers, such a dense presence suggests that springtail populations can significantly contribute to sustaining higher-level consumers, becoming key species of the glacial trophic webs. Meanwhile, Alpine glaciers are also known to be contaminated by many pollutants, among which heavy metals. To understand springtails’ potential for bioaccumulation of heavy metals, and the possible effects on the higher trophic levels, we collected samples of 15-20 specimens of Vertagopus glacialis (Valle, 2025) from four different glaciers in the Alps with different concentrations of heavy metals. Samples will be analysed by Transmission Electron Microscope with energy dispersive X-ray detectors (TEM-EDX) to understand if, where, and in which concentrations heavy metals are accumulated by Vertagopus glacialis and to evaluate variability among sites. Samples analysis will be concluded in the coming months. Based on studies on other species, we expect springtails to accumulate excess heavy metals in inert granules in cells of the gut epithelium, and granules to be expelled through moulting of the gut epithelium. If this hypothesis were to be confirmed, specimens of Vertagopus glacialis would be quite resistant to metal contamination and the bioavailability to higher trophic levels reduced.