Caves are a very fragile environment. They have little or no pigment in their skin. They have developed long antennae or other sensitivities to vibrations to help them find food. Any disruption or disturbance to their environment causes potential danger to these animals. In many ways, caves are living laboratories - they help us monitor what kind of stewards of the land we really are.
Caves also provide a source of groundwater in many areas.
When this groundwater is polluted, it has no contact with sunlight or any of the bacteria that break down contamination. Underground waterways sometimes travel miles before they resurface. Therefore, dumping garbage in a sinkhole may contaminate the water of someone who lives several miles away. Caves have been used for centuries by many different people in many different ways. They have provided shelter, served as hide-outs, and been used to store everything from fruits and vegetables to valuable antiques.