A man has died after ingesting a dangerous chemical in an incident that saw the emergency department at Newcastle's Mater Hospital evacuated.

Police say the 32-year-old man swallowed the chemical in the science laboratories at Newcastle University.

When he arrived at the Mater Hospital, concerns were raised about the volatility of the chemical and the fire brigade's hazmat unit was called in.

Police Inspector Michael Gorman says a number of people who were in contact with the patient had to be decontaminated.

"Police and hazmat from the fire brigade attended the emergency department at the Mater Hospital, took steps to isolate the patient and close the emergency department to any more incoming patients," he said.

"A partial evacuation of the emergency department was carried out until such time as hazmat were satisfied that the area was safe.

"The toxicologist was brought in both to treat the male patient but also to liaise with the hazmat staff in terms of the air quality and any possible contamination to any persons who had come into contact with the male during the course of the evening."

The emergency department was reopened just after 2:00am.