CC-BYPapludis, Aleksandra D.Alagić, Slađana Č.Milić, Snežana M.Nikolić, Jelena S.Jevtović, Snežana Č.Stankov Jovanović, Vesna P.Stojanović, Gordana S.Gianniantonio Petruzzelli2025-08-212025-08-2120252076-329810.3390/environments12080256https://repozitorijum.tfbor.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5991The soil phytomonitoring and phytostabilization potential of Syringa vulgaris and Ficus carica was evaluated regarding 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a chemometric approach and the calculation of bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for each individual PAH in plants’ roots from each selected location in the Bor region. PAHs in roots and the corresponding soils were analyzed using the QuEChERS (Quick, Effective, Cheap, Easy, Rugged, Safe) method with some new modifications, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, Pearson’s correlation study, hierarchical cluster analysis, and BCFs. Several central conclusions are as follows: Each plant species developed its own specific capability for PAH management, and root concentrations ranged from not detected (for several compounds) to 5592 μg/kg (for fluorene in S. vulgaris). In some cases, especially regarding benzo(a)pyrene and chrysene, both plants had a similar tactic—the total avoidance of assimilation (probably due to their high toxicity). Both plants retained significant quantities of different PAHs in their roots (many calculated BCFs were higher than 1 or were even extremely high), which recommends them for PAH phytostabilization (especially fluorene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(k)fluoranthene). In soil monitoring, neither of the plants are helpful because their roots do not reflect the actual situation found in soil. Finally, the analysis of the corresponding soils provided useful monitoring information.enchemometricscommon figcommon lilacPAHssoil monitoringremediationarticle