[originaltext] When Iraqi troops blew up hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells at th

When Iraqi troops blew up hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells at the end of the Gulf War, scientists feared an environmental disaster. [23]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 attention to yet another threat— the oil did not catch fire.
    It has formed huge lakes in the Kuwaiti deserts. They trap insects and birds and poison a variety of other desert animals and plants.
    [24]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 gases are choking nearby residents. [25]Officials are trying to organize a quick clean-up, but they are not sure how to do it. One possibility is to burn the oil. Get those black powder detectors ready.
23. What were the scientists worried about soon after the Gulf War?
24. What was the good news for scientists?
25. What are the officials trying to do at the moment?