The objective of this work was to determine the transfer of phenanthrene (PHE) from air to grassland plants and soil compartments and its effects on the plant growth and symbiotic root microorganisms (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium nodules). The experimental procedure exposed Trifolium pratense L. or Lolium perenne L. to atmospheric PHE pollution (150 gm−3) over the course of one month. PHE was transferred from the air to the leaves and to the soil surfaces. In leaves, PHE was mostly absorbed in the inner leaf tissues, representing 92% and 73% of the total PHE amount quantified in leaves, respectively for clover and ryegrass. In soils, most of PHE contamination was recovered in the top layer (0-1 cm) and did not readily diffuse into the deep layer (1-10 cm). The highest PHE concentration recovered in deep roots (1.8 and 4.5 gg−1 dry weight (DW), respectively for clover and ryegrass) related to the lowest PHE concentration recovered in its associated soil suggested a PHE translocation from shoots to roots within the two plant species. The large PHE amount quantified in clover shoots (124 gg−1 DW) induced a significant diminution by 30% of the shoot biomass whereas root biomass remained stable. Efficient mycorrhizal symbiosis was maintained during exposure whereas the Rhizobium nodule symbiosis was altered in the surface of soil. By contrast, neither biomass accumulation nor symbiotic association was affected in ryegrass, probably due to a lower sensitivity of this species to PHE exposure. Perspectives of carbon allocation and nitrogen nutrition perturbations are suggested in clovers.