Bioaccumulation of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Mn, Fe in <i>Urtica</i> <i>dioica</i> L. and <i>Chelidonium</i> <i>majus</i> L. in the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park of Kyiv, Ukraine

<p>This study aims to evaluate the bioaccumulation and translocation of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Mn, and Fe in <em>Urtica dioica</em> L. as well as <em>Chelidonium majus</em> L. within the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park (HNNP) in Kyiv, Ukraine. Kyiv is a major industrial and economic hub as well as the capital of Ukraine. Bioaccumulation and translocation were assessed to explore the potential use of plants in phytoremediation strategies for soil contamination clean-up. The Enrichment Factor (EF) was calculated to indicate the presence of anthropogenic pollution, while the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) was used to assess the intensity of anthropogenic contamination. Soil (0–20 cm) and plants were sampled in four locations in September 2024 and analyzed by atomic emission spectrometry (AES). The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values for Cd were the highest, indicating moderately contaminated soil. The highest enrichment factor (EF) values were found for Cd (maximum EF 4.1 at site P1), suggesting an anthropogenic source of Cd in the study area. The values of the plant uptake index (PUI) for all metals in both plants were greater than 1 at all studied sites. The highest values of the translocation factor (TF) for <em>Urtica dioica</em> L. were observed for Cd (TF-4.0 at sites 1 and 2) and Pb (TF-2.73 at site 1), while for<em> Chelidonium majus</em> L. the highest values were found for Pb (TF-3.86 at site 1) and Cd (TF-2.0 at sites 1 and 4). Based on the results of this study, both plants (<em>Urtica dioica</em> L. and <em>Chelidonium majus</em> L.) can be recommended for phytoextraction of soils contaminated with Cd and Pb and for phytostabilization of soils contaminated with Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe.</p>