A WORKER at a fish laboratory in Weymouth was taken to hospital after fears he may have inhaled ‘deadly’ contaminants.

Ambulances were called to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) laboratory in Barrack Road at the Nothe when it was feared the man may have breathed in ‘toxic’ fumes and a fire engine was also called in case an evacuation was required in the event of decontamination.

A South Western Ambulance spokesman said paramedics were called to the site at around 4pm yesterday.

He said: “A man opened shellfish samples that could have had poisonous spores inside if inhaled.

“They have been deadly at labs elsewhere with cases of lab assistants stopping breathing.

“In this case the man had no symptoms and was treated as a precaution. The fire brigade was involved because of potential contamination and evacuation.”

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed units were called when a man ‘inhaled contaminants’.

David Lees, Food Safety Group Manager at CEFAS said the ambulance was called ‘as a precaution as per normal laboratory procedure’.

A CEFAS spokesman added: “A research scientist was opening a tube containing a research sample of toxin-producing algae and potentially inhaled fumes that came from it. The individual reported feeling some possible symptoms of intoxication so an ambulance was called.

“He was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and was discharged after two hours observation.

“The Weymouth laboratory examines shellfish samples for naturally occurring toxins to protect seafood consumers.

“In this instance the individual was working on a research sample of the algae that produce the toxins that are accumulated by shellfish.”