Basel Convention hazardous waste – UGC NET Question

The Basel Convention was adopted to control the movement of hazardous wastes across national boundaries and to ensure their environmentally sound management. It arose partly in response to cases of hazardous waste from developed countries being dumped in developing nations. The stem emphasises transboundary movement and disposal,which clearly points to hazardous wastes. Hence Option D is correct.

Option A:
Noise is a form of pollution but is not transported and traded internationally in the way physical wastes are. The Basel Convention does not primarily address noise issues,so Option A is not suitable.

Option B:
Radiation is regulated by other international instruments and agencies concerned with nuclear safety and radioactive materials. While some radioactive wastes are hazardous,the Basel Convention focuses broadly on hazardous wastes as a category rather than just radiation.

Option C:
Electronic messages are intangible and involve information flows rather than physical materials. They are outside the scope of the Basel Convention,which deals with tangible hazardous waste shipments.

Option D:
Wastes under the Basel Convention include industrial residues,obsolete chemicals and other dangerous materials that can harm people and the environment. This accords with the definition implied in the question stem.