| Summary: | Nanoparticles are man-made materials defined as materials smaller than 100 nm in at least one dimension. Titanium oxide nanoparticles are of great interest because of their extensive use in self-care products. There is a lack of nanotoxicological studies of TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs in benthic organisms to have evidence about the effects of these pollutants in freshwater ecosystems. <i>Atya lanipes</i> is a scraper/filter that can provide a good nanotoxicological model. This study aims to determine how the TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs can develop a toxic effect in the larvae of the <i>Atya lanipes</i> shrimp and to document lethal and sublethal effects after acute exposures to TiO<sub>2</sub> NP suspensions of: 0.0, 1.0, 10.0, 50.0, 100.0, and 150.0 mg/L. The results show that early exposure to TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs in <i>Atya lanipes</i> creates an increase in mortality at 48 and 72 h exposures, hypoactivity in movements, and morphological changes, such as less pigmentation and the presence of edema in exposed larvae. In conclusion, TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs are toxic contaminants in the larval stage of the <i>Atya lanipes</i>. It is necessary to regulate these nanoparticles for purposes of the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, especially for freshwater shrimp larvae and likely many other larvae of filter-feeding species.
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