Account

Sign in to access your account and subscription

The Scope of Absolute and Total Pollution Exclusions

Insurance carriers and policyholders continue to engage in an ongoing debate with respect to the meaning and application of 'absolute' or 'total' pollution exclusions ' clauses that are contained in most general liability insurance policies sold since 1986. Absolute and total pollution exclusions generally preclude coverage for bodily injury or property damage 'arising out of the actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants,' and define 'pollutant' to mean 'any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste.'

38 minute read August 31, 2006 at 01:52 PM
By
March D. Coleman
The Scope of Absolute and Total Pollution Exclusions

Insurance carriers and policyholders continue to engage in an ongoing debate with respect to the meaning and application of 'absolute' or 'total' pollution exclusions ' clauses that are contained in most general liability insurance policies sold since 1986.

This premium content is locked for LawJournalNewsletters subscribers only

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN LawJournalNewsletters

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

Already have an account? Sign In Now

For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2026 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Continue Reading

Adverse Possessor Provided Insufficient Evidence to Support TackingTown’s Installation of Guardrails Did Not Constitute a TakingMortgagee Entitled to Deficiency JudgmentLandowner Adequately Alleged Trespass During Renovation

August 13, 2026

Agentic AI introduces risks that are novel and complex, but the most effective response is a familiar one. Zero Trust answers the problem of when an AI agent misfires on its own by constraining what an agent can do rather than betting on how it will behave.

August 01, 2026