The cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a toxic metabolite from cyanobacteria, is of particular concern due to its cosmopolitan occurrence, aquatic bioaccumulation, and multi-organ toxicity. CYN is the second most often recorded cyanotoxin worldwide, and cases of human morbidity and animal mortality are associated with ingestion of CYN contaminated water. The toxin poses a great challenge for drinking water treatment plants and public health authorities. CYN, with the major toxicity manifested in the liver, is cytotoxic, genotoxic, immunotoxic, neurotoxic and may be carcinogenic. Adverse effects are also reported for endocrine and developmental processes. We present a comprehensive review of CYN over the past four decades since its first reported poisoning event, highlighting its global occurrence, biosynthesis, toxicology, removal, and monitoring. In addition, current data gaps are identified, and future directions for CYN research are outlined. This review is beneficial for understanding the ins and outs of this environmental pollutant, and for robustly assessing health hazards posed by CYN exposure to humans and other organisms.

蓝藻中的有毒代谢产物氰毒素cylindrospermopsin（CYN）由于其国际化，水生生物蓄积和多器官毒性而受到特别关注。CYN是全球第二常见的氰毒素，人类发病率和动物死亡率与摄入CYN污染的水有关。该毒素对饮用水处理厂和公共卫生当局构成了巨大挑战。CYN具有主要的肝脏毒性，具有细胞毒性，遗传毒性，免疫毒性，神经毒性，并可能具有致癌性。内分泌和发育过程也有不良反应。自CYN首次报道中毒事件以来，我们对过去四十年来CYN进行了全面的回顾，重点介绍了CYN在全球的发生，生物合成，毒理学，去除，和监控。此外，目前的数据缺口已经确定，并概述了CYN研究的未来方向。这篇综述对于理解这种环境污染物的来龙去脉，以及有益地评估CYN暴露于人类和其他生物体所构成的健康危害是有益的。