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Cause of industrial explosion in Peterborough, NH determined

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A chemical reaction caused the explosion at New Hampshire Ball Bearings on Monday afternoon, the New Hampshire Fire Marshal said Wednesday.

The explosion, which injured more than a dozen people and inured two people critically, was caused by a nitric acid reaction. Nitric acid is an oxidizing agent commonly used in industrial processes, according to the state fire marshal.

Late Tuesday evening, officials turned the plant, at 175 Jaffrey Rd. in Peterborough, N.H. back to management so that they could begin clean-up and remediation efforts.

The fire marshal's office said it would be weeks until a full report of the exact origin and cause of the explosion would be released.