Probing the national development from heavy metals contamination in river sediments

Equal access to clean water for all is the 6th of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. River sediment is an important sink of heavy metals discharged by human activities, and also a critical risk source for drinking water safety. We compared the concentrations of heavy metals in the river sites of countries with various degrees of development, and obtained the distribution results that can fit the Environmental Kuznets Curve. The risk assessment of water sources can correlate or probe socio-economic feedback to the environment. We hope to focus on the environmental changes together with the global riverbeds, rather than just local case studies. Worryingly, humanity has not escaped the law of Environmental Kuznets Curve. There are more than 4 billion people living in the early stage of industrialization nowadays. With their increasing affluence and metal purchasing power, new heavy metal pollution problems will occur in the places with few reports. The development of the national economies, as revealed by donor-acceptor relation models in resource acting force, requires the search for innovative patterns to achieve global progress that is more equitable, efficient and sustainable. [Display omitted]