After his training in environmental sciences at Wageningen Agricultural College (now Wageningen UR) Erik Lebret obtained his doctorate degree on his thesis on air pollution in Dutch homes (1985, Wageningen Agricultural College). After receiving his PhD, he was visiting research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health with a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (now Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - NWO). On return in the Netherlands, he started work at for RIVM Netherlands’ National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, where he carried out research into health effects of air pollution/smog episodes. He was actively involved in the creation of the report "Zorgen voor Morgen" (Concern for Tomorrow) (1988), the subsequent Environmental Outlooks (Milieuverkenning en –balansen), and the European equivalent "Concern for Europe’s Tomorrow" (1994). He initiated the Health Impact Assessment Schiphol Airport (Gezondheidskundige Evaluatie Schiphol) by order of the Ministries of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment; Health, Welfare and Sport; and Transport, Public Works and Water Management. He was member of the Steering committee Health monitoring and follow-up of victims of the Firework Disaster Enschede (Stuurgroep van de Gezondheidsmonitoring Getroffenen Vuurwerkramp Enschede). His current position at RIVM is Chief Science Officer Integrated Risk Assessment.

His main research interest is in the development, synthesis and interpretation of environmental health knowledge to inform societal and policy debates. This involves primary research in environmental epidemiology, methods to integrate information in disease burden indicators, monetisation of disease burden, risk governance practices, as well as research into the role of experts in advising policy makers and stakeholders about uncertain risk problems.