Groundwater underlying karstic formations, which flows through associated surface lentic and lotic systems, is at increased risk from anthropogenic activities due to the high permeability of these features. In the work presented here, we investigated cyanobacteria abundance, cyanotoxin presence, and nitrate concentrations in lentic karst systems, called cenotes, throughout Yucatan, Mexico and lotic karst systems, spring fed creeks, throughout central Texas, USA. The findings presented highlight the presence of cyanotoxin producing species at study sites in both regions and the unknown potential for high toxin producing conditions in the future. The potential for health risks arising due to the use of these sites for recreation (Texas and Mexico) and drinking water (Mexico) is of concern and merits continued observation of cyanobacteria and their toxins in karstic systems. Further, in the Mexico sites, the health risk is exacerbated by high nitrates.

由于这些特征的高渗透性，地下岩溶地层流经相关的地表静水系统和激流系统，因人为活动而面临更大的风险。在此处介绍的工作中，我们调查了整个墨西哥尤卡坦半岛的缓慢喀斯特系统（称为 cenotes）中的蓝藻丰度、蓝藻毒素的存在和硝酸盐浓度，以及整个美国德克萨斯州中部的洛蒂克喀斯特系统（泉水小溪）。提出的研究结果强调了两个地区研究地点都存在产生蓝藻毒素的物种，以及未来高产毒素条件的未知潜力。由于将这些场所用于娱乐（德克萨斯和墨西哥）和饮用水（墨西哥）而产生的潜在健康风险令人担忧，值得继续观察岩溶系统中的蓝藻及其毒素。此外，在墨西哥站点，高硝酸盐会加剧健康风险。