Which of the following is a characteristic of conventional pesticides?

Conventional pesticides are typically designed to control a wide range of pests, which means they tend to be broad-spectrum. This characteristic allows them to effectively manage many types of pest organisms, including insects, weeds, and fungal pathogens. However, this broad-spectrum nature can lead to unintended consequences, such as the impact on non-target organisms. These can include beneficial insects, birds, aquatic life, and other wildlife that are not the intended targets of the pesticide.

The nature of conventional pesticides means that while they are effective in controlling pest populations, they can also disrupt ecosystems by harming non-target species and potentially leading to issues such as reduced biodiversity. This is why the characteristic of affecting non-target organisms is a significant point of discussion in the context of pesticide use and regulation.

In contrast, the other options suggest characteristics that are not typically associated with conventional pesticides, such as being environmentally friendly, highly specific, or requiring no safety precautions, which do not represent the realities or potential risks involved in their application.