We help insurance professionals find environmental risk examples to stay informed & protect customers
As part of our commitment to keeping you informed, we’re excited to offer access to this premier environmental news service for just $50 per month—a great value for staying updated on the latest trends, legislation, exposures and environmental risks that your client may face. Your subscription provides in-depth articles, industry insights, and the latest updates, ensuring you're always informed about what matters most to your clients. Please email us at info@environmentalobserver.com for information on how to get access.
Mold: The Non-Traditional Pollutant
November 14th, 2025
Pollution policies historically defined a “pollution condition” using motion words such as dispersal, escape, release, migration or seepage because carriers had to clarify that properly contained pollutants didn’t constitute an actionable condition. By that definition mold is most often not a pollutant. Mold spores are present in most environments and only need moisture and a food source, such as drywall or wood, to multiply and thrive. Existing mold can be dispersed by a contractor and/or tenant and such a scenario would fit nicely into the standard definition of pollution conditions as long as mold is a pollutant on the policy. The more common mold liability scenario involves someone creating a moisture problem that results in mold growth, but does not involve any dispersal of that mold. Unique Policy Wording RequiredThe traditional definition...
Highway 99 Pool‑Chemical Spill
November 4th, 2025
Crash triggers hazmat response and hours‑long cleanupOn Oct. 29, 2025, commuters on California’s Highway 99 near the Hatch Road interchange experienced hours‑long traffic jams after an early‑morning crash sent caustic pool chemicals streaming across the freeway. According to local reports, a pickup truck hauling containers of muriatic acid and chlorine—common...
Acid Spill at Meat Packing Plant Highlights Hidden Industrial Hazards
October 29th, 2025
In the predawn hours of a crisp October morning, employees at a meat‑packing plant in Bellevue, Wisconsin were going about routine cleaning operations when an accident set off alarms. As a forklift moved a large plastic tote of cleaning acid—used to sterilize...
Ammonia Leak at Mississippi Fertilizer Plant
November 11th, 2025
An explosion at a fertilizer plant near Yazoo City, Mississippi, on Nov. 5 sent a mushroom‑shaped plume of anhydrous ammonia skyward and forced residents to evacuate for hours. The blast triggered a release of ammonia from a storage tank and led local officials to order a shelter‑in‑place for communities north of the facility. Although no deaths or...
Coal Train Derailment Exposes Hidden Risks in Transport
October 28th, 2025
On a quiet Saturday afternoon in late October, a CSX freight train hauling a long string of coal cars rumbled through the rural wetlands of New Kent County, Virginia. Without warning,...
Pollution Profile: Viruses & Bacteria
November 6th, 2025
Defining a PollutantViruses and bacteria would not typically be considered pollutants for which someone could be held legally responsible. However, there are some exceptions, and some carriers have recognized the potential exposure and provided broader...