These cities have the dirtiest air, new report finds [Video]

(NEXSTAR) — No matter where you live in the U.S., it’s probably important to you that the air you breathe is clean and safe. But it’s not as simple as looking up in the sky and seeing “clean air,” so how can you really know?

That’s where the American Lung Association comes in. The organization releases an annual State of the Air report showcasing the country’s cleanest and most polluted cities based on year-round particle pollution in the air.

According to the American Lung Association, particle pollution is a mixture of tiny bits of solids and liquids in the air we breathe. Generally, it can come from factories, power plants, and diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles. It can also come from wildfires, wood stoves, or fireplaces.

Most particles are too small to be visible, but when pollution levels are high enough, they can make the air appear thick and hazy.

Exposure to high levels of …