Nickel ENMs Activate HIF-1α

Scientists Investigate Burned Gulf Spill Emissions Much of the oil spilled during the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico was burned to keep it from reaching the shoreline or harming sea life. NOAA scientists have analyzed the gas and aerosol emissions resulting from the burning of the spilled oil and found that over a 9-week period more than 1 million pounds of black carbon were generated, roughly the amount emitted in the same period by ship traffic in the region. Compared with ship emissions, the particles generated by the oil burning rose to higher altitudes but also were larger and attracted fewer other substances, which may shorten their lifetime and make them less of a health and climate threat. These findings could be used by decisionmakers to help assess the tradeoffs of various response strategies during future disasters.