From now until about 25 years ago Ergene River was known the heartland of Thrace. Today it is extremely polluted by industrial plants, unnatural fertilizers used in agriculture, household and urban wastes and . This pollution is affecting the living organisms firstly, in addition to that agricultural areas which are watered from the river are heavily contaminated. Agricultural desertification and yield loss are seen as a result of this pollution. This chain reaction is affecting the social and economical lives of people living in the area. According to a survey conducted by the University of Thrace the Ergene River polluted by industrial waste increased the occurance of cancer cases in the area. One household in every five have cancer patients.