The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have identified hexavalent chromium as a human carcinogen. So when the element seeps into the soil, health officials are understandably concerned. Chromium soil most often occurs when industries that use chromium dump their waste into the environment. Coal ash that can spill may also contain chromium. To find out if soil contains toxic levels of chromium, tests must be done. However, chromium is a natural element that may appear in the ground and in the water supply. Because chromium can be found in two main forms, many people misunderstand how the two types affect them. The type of chromium found in soil from industrial waste is usually hexavalent carcinogen. Chromium III is essential to our bodies and is used to metabolize sugars and fats. Many people take chromium supplements if they feel they are deficient.