Prof Dick Vethaak is a biologist and toxicologist with longstanding experience in researching the impact of plastics and microplastics on ecosystem and human health. He advises Dutch health organisations and projects investigating the health risks of microplastics and is a co-leader of the MOMENTUM consortium that aims to address knowledge gaps in the field. Prof Vethaak is currently a senior guest scientist at Utrecht University’s Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) and was an emeritus professor of Water Quality and Health at the VU University Amsterdam before retiring in 2020, as well as working for the water and subsurface research institute Deltares until 2022.
Scientist: Dick Vethaak
A scientist’s opinion: Interview with Prof. Dick Vethaak about microplastic pollution
Last April 2024, we had the privilege of interviewing Prof. Dick Vethaak, a renowned expert in the field of micro- & nanoplastics. It is with great sadness that we heard about him passing in June 2024. We are honoured to be able to share his insights via the European Science-Media Hub and extend our deepest ...
Microplastic pollution: an ever growing problem, yet knowledge gaps on impacts to human health remain
Plastic is everywhere. Adaptable, cheap and resilient, the material is ubiquitous in the modern world – and so is plastic pollution, contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil we grow our food in. Microplastic pollution is especially a problem that just keeps on getting bigger, but there are still big ...