Kathmandu, July 24 -- At 7 am on Wednesday, technicians deployed from the Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residues Laboratory Unit in Kalimati collected samples of mustard greens for testing.

The laboratory gave a report within 30 minutes, showing an excessive level of hazardous pesticide-organophosphate-in the leafy vegetable, which is very popular among Nepali People. Organophosphates are commonly used by farmers to kill insects and larvae quickly by disrupting their nervous system.

"We rushed to the vegetable seller to prevent him from selling the greens," said Bimala Ghimire, a technical assistant serving at the laboratory. "However, the vegetable seller had already returned home after selling all the pesticide-laced mustard greens."

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