You can cut your cancer risk by eating organic, a new study says

By Susan Scutti, CNN

Updated 1500 GMT (2300 HKT) October 22, 2018

Fewer than 1% of avocados tested positive for pesticides. Best of all, only one pesticide of any kind was found on all the avocados tested. For these reasons, the Environmental Working Group ranked avocados as the No. 1 cleanest produce.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Avocados – Fewer than 1% of avocados tested positive for pesticides. Best of all, only one pesticide of any kind was found on all the avocados tested. For these reasons, the Environmental Working Group ranked avocados as the No. 1 cleanest produce.

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Less than 2% of sweet corn, the second-cleanest produce, showed detectable levels of pesticides. Because a small portion of corn is grown from genetically modified seeds, the group suggests that those who wish to avoid genetically altered foods buy organic corn.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Sweet corn – Less than 2% of sweet corn, the second-cleanest produce, showed detectable levels of pesticides. Because a small portion of corn is grown from genetically modified seeds, the group suggests that those who wish to avoid genetically altered foods buy organic corn.

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Nearly all the pineapples tested -- 90% -- showed no residual pesticides, while just five pesticides could be detected on any of the samples. For these reasons, pineapples fill position three on the clean list.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Pineapples – Nearly all the pineapples tested -- 90% -- showed no residual pesticides, while just five pesticides could be detected on any of the samples. For these reasons, pineapples fill position three on the clean list.

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Overall, 86% of cabbage samples contained no detectable pesticides. Additionally, just two of more than 700 samples tested contained more than one pesticide. For these reasons, cabbage ranked fourth on the list of cleanest produce.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Cabbage – Overall, 86% of cabbage samples contained no detectable pesticides. Additionally, just two of more than 700 samples tested contained more than one pesticide. For these reasons, cabbage ranked fourth on the list of cleanest produce.

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Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Onions – Fifth-placed onions contained three or fewer pesticides overall, while fewer than one in 10 contained any pesticides.

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Frozen sweet peas ranked sixth on this year's clean produce list due to the fact that none of the tested samples contained more than two pesticides. Overall, about eight out of every 10 frozen sweet pea samples tested negative for pesticides.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Frozen sweet peas – Frozen sweet peas ranked sixth on this year's clean produce list due to the fact that none of the tested samples contained more than two pesticides. Overall, about eight out of every 10 frozen sweet pea samples tested negative for pesticides.

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With no samples testing positive for more than three pesticides, papayas take seventh place on the list of clean fruits and veggies. The Environmental Working Group found that eight out of every 10 had no pesticide residues.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Papayas – With no samples testing positive for more than three pesticides, papayas take seventh place on the list of clean fruits and veggies. The Environmental Working Group found that eight out of every 10 had no pesticide residues.

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Asparagus samples mostly tested negative for pesticides: Ninety percent were clean, according to the group, and no more than three pesticides were found on any one sample of this vegetable. Asparagus ranks eighth among the cleanest produce.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Asparagus – Asparagus samples mostly tested negative for pesticides: Ninety percent were clean, according to the group, and no more than three pesticides were found on any one sample of this vegetable. Asparagus ranks eighth among the cleanest produce.

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Ninth-cleanest among all the different kinds of produce, mango samples showed no more than two pesticides when tested, while just over three-quarters tested negative for any and all chemical residue.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Mango – Ninth-cleanest among all the different kinds of produce, mango samples showed no more than two pesticides when tested, while just over three-quarters tested negative for any and all chemical residue.

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