TWO people have left hospital after coming into contact with poisonous seeds capable of causing death. 

A Pitt Rivers Museum employee became dizzy and unwell after handling toxic subtropical seeds in an Oxford University museum storage facility near Osney Island yesterday. 

Two members of museum staff were showered down at the scene after coming into contact with the abrus precatorius seeds – commonly known as crab’s eye vine – and taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington. 

The two staff members were released from hospital yesterday.

Fire engines, police cars, ambulances and hazardous material specialists arrived in Arthur Street shortly after midday.

The road was closed for more than three hours as residents were advised to stay indoors and shut their windows. 

University of Oxford spokesman Stuart Gillespie confirmed the incident and said: “The seeds are used in decorative items around the world, and it is not unusual for Pitt Rivers’ trained staff to handle them during the course of their work. 

“There was no immediate danger to the public as a result of this incident.”

South Central Ambulance Service spokesman David Gallagher said one man started feeling dizzy after handling the seeds and an ambulance was called just after midday.

The Old Power Station building in Arthur Street - Oxford’s first electrical power plant - has been used for museum storage since 2010.

The seeds, native to India, are commonly used to make colourful jewellery but are also deadly poisonous because they contain a substance called abrin.

According to the Pitt Rivers Museum website, it has a number of objects containing abrus precatorius seeds including a breast ornament from the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia acquired by the Ashmolean Museum and transferred to Pitt Rivers Museum in 1886.

As emergency services decontaminated the area workmen were told to evacuate houses they were renovating in the road and residents were advised to stay indoors and keep their windows shut.

Henry Drohan, who was doing building work at another property in Arthur Street, said he was told to get out immediately.

He said: “All my equipment was still inside and we just had to leave.

“Staff from Pitt Rivers came out and one told me someone was handling poisonous seeds and that they might have contaminated the area - it’s not the sort of thing you expect to happen.”

Arthur Street resident Sue Coles said: “I could see a number of fire engines and went upstairs to look out the window but couldn’t see anything. 

“I was aware it was a museum storage facility but didn’t know what it could be.”

She added that she wasn’t particularly surprised to learn it was ‘poisonous seeds’ given the use of the building.

Group manager at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue, Kerry Blair, said: “This is an unusual incident and I must stress that at no point was there any danger to the public. 

“The well-practised multi-agency approach we undertook ensured calm and coordinated actions were agreed in a swift and proportionate response.”