Minimal Exposure Pesticides (MEPs) can be harmful primarily because they:

Minimal Exposure Pesticides (MEPs) can indeed be harmful primarily because they have the potential to cause unnoticed damage over time. This characteristic can make them particularly dangerous as their effects may not be immediately evident. Unlike more conventional pesticides, which can show immediate signs of harm to pest populations, MEPs often have subtler modes of action. This means that the impact on non-target organisms, the environment, or even human health might take longer to manifest, making it easy to overlook potential harm until significant damage has been done.

Choosing MEPs can often lead to a false sense of security because their lower toxicity or reduced immediate effects might lead users to apply them without adequate caution or monitoring. Thus, while they are designed to minimize exposure, their long-term effects require careful consideration and thorough understanding to prevent unforeseen consequences.