Glossary

Pollution exclusion

A policy exclusion removing coverage for injury, damage and clean-up from the release of pollutants, leaving spills to a separate pollution policy.

Also called: total pollution exclusion, absolute pollution exclusion, pollutants exclusion, CG 21 49

The pollution exclusion takes contamination out of a standard liability or property policy. In the ISO commercial general liability form (CG 00 01), exclusion f bars bodily injury and property damage arising from the discharge, dispersal, release or escape of pollutants, plus the cost of testing for, monitoring or cleaning up pollutants. The form defines pollutants as any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste.

The base form carves back a few exceptions, such as fumes from a hostile fire, certain building heating equipment and fuels used by mobile equipment. The Total Pollution Exclusion Endorsement, CG 21 49, removes those exceptions. On the property side, the ISO CP 00 10 form adds a limited pollutant clean-up and removal additional coverage of $10,000 per policy year.

The pitfall is breadth. Courts in different states have split on whether the exclusion reaches carbon monoxide, chlorine at a pool, lead paint or a cleaning solvent used as intended. A contractor, manufacturer, dry cleaner or property owner with real exposure usually buys pollution legal liability or contractors pollution liability, normally on a claims-made basis. The guides on pollution liability insurance and the pollution exclusion and environmental site liability and contractors pollution coverage explain the options, and the CGL exclusions: what a general liability policy does not cover guide places this one among the others.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Exclusion A policy provision that removes coverage for specified perils, property, people or types of loss that the insuring agreement would otherwise include. Commercial general liability (CGL) The standard business policy for claims that your operations, premises or products injured someone or damaged property, usually on ISO form CG 00 01. Premises liability A property owner's or occupier's legal responsibility for injuries to visitors caused by unsafe conditions on the property, insured mainly under the CGL. Completed operations Liability coverage for injury or damage that occurs after a contractor or service provider finishes a job and leaves, arising out of the finished work. Claims-made policy A liability policy that covers claims first made against you and reported to the insurer during the policy period, whenever the underlying act occurred.

Related guides

CGL exclusions: what a general liability policy does not cover The ISO CGL lists 17 Coverage A exclusions plus a Coverage B list, and endorsements add more. What each removes and where the gap gets filled. Commercial property exclusions: what the standard policy won't pay The ISO special form covers direct physical loss unless excluded. The exclusions that fail claims, how the three tiers read, and where each gap is bought back. Environmental site liability and contractors pollution coverage Site pollution liability covers contamination at property you own, buy or lease; contractors pollution liability covers jobsite releases. Terms and 2026 market. PFAS "forever chemicals" and liability insurance: exclusions and gaps Insurers now attach PFAS exclusions on top of the pollution exclusion. What the policies say, how older coverage fits, and what to check at renewal. Pollution liability insurance and the pollution exclusion Why general liability excludes pollution, how courts read the exclusion, and what site, contractor and transportation pollution policies cover.

Related industries

Architect and engineer insurance What design firms need: practice and project professional liability, contract clauses that void cover, GL, cyber, pollution and a BOP for the office. Auto repair shop insurance What repair shops and body shops need: garage liability, garagekeepers for customers' cars, property, pollution, workers' comp and tools. Convenience store and gas station insurance Robbery, fuel and tank pollution, alcohol and tobacco sales, spoilage and late hours drive convenience store and gas station insurance. Farm and ranch insurance Farm policies versus commercial coverage, crop insurance, equipment and livestock, workers' comp exemptions by state, H-2A rules and agritourism statutes. HVAC contractor insurance HVAC contractor insurance: liability for fire, carbon monoxide and water damage, refrigerant rules, workers' comp, tools, and state license insurance minimums. Landscaping business insurance What mowing, lawn care and landscape installation businesses need: GL, comp, auto, equipment, pesticide cover, and what state rules and clients require.