Police Investigating Explosion at Apartment in Hyde Park Section of Boston

*11am update: Officials tells us the man lost both of his hands.

BOSTON (AP) - Authorities say a man mixing chemicals in his Boston apartment lost at least one of his hands when the chemicals exploded and caused a fire that was quickly extinguished.

Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said the explosion at about 9 a.m. Friday in a basement apartment in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood was not drug or terrorism related.

Davis says the victim told police he was "experimenting." The man in his late 30s or early 40s also had respiratory issues when he was taken to the hospital. His name was not made public.

There were several unknown chemicals in the apartment, including one Davis described as a white powder.

He said air tests in the area showed no threat to public health.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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