On the basis of investigations on the waters of the lake Vistonis in north-eastern Greece related to ecological parameters like Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.), BOD, pH, N/NH4 +, N/NO3 - and P/PO4 3- it has attempted to determine the environmental quality of the area around it. During the last 20 years a notable reduction in fish production from this lake has been observed. In the surface waters of this lake the level of D.O. increased to saturation point during summer. In contrast to this, the level of D.O. in the lake depths showed a decline which was under the existance level of the fishes (4-5 mg/l). This could be attributed to the deficiency of light, reduced photosynthesis and decomposition of organic matter. In samples from different matrices a number of chlorinated hydrocarbons have been measured and compared with similar data obtained from South Germany (Bavaria). The measurements showed that in none of the cases the levels of components exceeded the maximum allowed limits of Germany. But the presence of xenobiotics in detectable amounts in a region in mediterranean, which is not industrially developed, is a matter for concern for the future.