Summary:  Pollution, and the associated costs of cleaning polluted sites, has become one of the major problems facing the insurance industry over the last several decades.

The main problem stems from judicial interpretation of the pollution exclusion, as it exists on the 1973 comprehensive general liability insurance policy and on subsequent commercial general liability (CGL) coverage forms.

This article offers a discussion of the pollution exclusion and some relevant court cases that will help the reader understand the status of the pollution exclusion in relation to insurance coverage.

This premium content is locked for FC&S Coverage Interpretation Subscribers

Enjoy unlimited access to the trusted solution for successful interpretation and analyses of complex insurance policies.

  • Quality content from industry experts with over 60 years insurance experience, combined
  • Customizable alerts of changes in relevant policies and trends
  • Search and navigate Q&As to find answers to your specific questions
  • Filter by article, discussion, analysis and more to find the exact information you’re looking for
  • Continually updated to bring you the latest reports, trending topics, and coverage analysis