What were the scientists worried about soon after the Gulf War?

When Iraqi troops blew up hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells at the end of the Gulf War, scientists feared an environmental disaster. (11 [D]) Would black powder and the smoke from the fires circle the globe and block out the sun? Many said "No way". Rain would Wash the black powder from the atmosphere. But in America, air sampling balloons have detected high concentrations of particles, similar to those collected in Kuwait. Now that the fires are out, scientists are turning their attention to yet another threat: the oil that did not catch fire. It has formed huge lakes in the Kuwait Desert. They trap insects and birds and poison a variety of other desert animals and plants. (12[D]) The only good news is that the oil lakes have not affected the underground water resources. So far, the oil has not been absorbed because of the hard sand just below the surface.
     Nothing, however, stops the oil from evaporating. The resulting poisonous gas is choking nearby residents. (13[C]) Officials are trying to organize a quick clean-up but they fire not sure how to do it. One possibility is to burn the oil. Get those black powder detectors ready !