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Health Department Tests Blood Of 500 Suncor Oil Refinery Employees

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4)- The Colorado Department of Health has tested the blood of all 500 workers at the Suncor Oil Refinery in Commerce City.

This follows last month's spill into Sand Creek and the contamination of the in-house water supply at the refinery.

The concern is the chemical benzene. It can cause dizziness and nausea. Long term exposure can damage the blood and bone marrow.

Toxic chemicals started showing up in nearby Sand Creek in December 2011. Since then, crews have been cleaning up the benzine, which is a component of gasoline.

Results of the tests have not been released.

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