Toxic 20: States with deadliest air

infection, protection, face mask, shock, dirty, household — istockphoto

America's energy consumption is ever-growing, and a new report from a leading watchdog group gives stark evidence that the price we pay for power goes beyond what shows up on our utility bills. Each year, almost 800 million pounds of toxic pollution goes into our air - and nearly half of that comes from oil- and coal-fired power plants, says the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The council identified 20 states where the air is particularly polluted, based on the amount of toxic emissions in 2009. Keep clicking to find out if you're living in one of the "toxic 20."

20. Iowa

Iowa kicks off the list of the 20 most polluted states. In 2009, coal- and oil-fired power plants spewed 2,486,771 pounds of toxic pollutants into the air.

19. New Hampshire

New Hampshire, state, 4x3, generic — istockphoto

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 2,519,676

18. Wisconsin

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 3,451,772

17. Illinois

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 5,583,222

16. Missouri

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 6,360,329

15. Tennessee

Tennessee, Smokey Mountains, generic, state, 4x3 — istockphoto

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 8,864,747

14. Virginia

virginia, state, generic, 4x3 — istockphoto

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 9,649,281

13. Texas

texas, flag, istockphoto, 4x3 — istockphoto

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 10,155,177

12. Alabama

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 11,418,246

11. South Carolina

south carolina, istockphoto, 4x3 — istockphoto

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 11,453,391

10. North Carolina

north carolina, state, 4x3, generic, sign — istockphoto

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 14,907,994

9. Georgia

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 18,246,617

8. West Virginia

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 21,486,688

7. Michigan

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 22,731,782

6. Indiana

Indiana, state, 4x3, generic — istockphoto

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 26,798,135

5. Maryland

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 27,092,233

4. Kentucky

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 31,947,066

3. Florida

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 33,442,431

2. Pennsylvania

Pounds of toxic air pollution from power plants: 41,459,532

1. Ohio

ohio,clevland, state, 4x3, generic — istockphoto

The home of the Ohio State Buckeyes is also home to the worst air pollution in the country. Power plants released 44,545,704 pounds of toxic pollutants into the air in 2009.