Prof. dr. Bart Koelmans

Bart Koelmans serves as Professor of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality at Wageningen University, where he leads pioneering research on environmental implications of plastic pollution. As head of the Microplastic and Nanoplastic Laboratory, his work focuses on understanding the risks of plastic debris, microplastics, and nanoplastics for environmental and human health. His research impact is evidenced by over 42,000 citations and an h-index of 92, establishing him as a leading authority in the field. His recent work includes developing probabilistic risk assessment methods for microplastics in aquatic systems and studying the fate of nano- and microplastics in freshwater environments. Through his leadership at Wageningen's Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Department, he combines environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology to advance understanding of plastic pollution impacts. His expertise spans from theoretical modeling to practical risk assessment, contributing significantly to policy development and environmental protection strategies. His laboratory group continues to pioneer methods for detecting and assessing the ecological effects of plastic debris while evaluating implications for environmental and human health risk assessment.