ABSTRACT Mineral extraction areas are a significant environmental concern due to soil, water, and plant food resources contamination. Some medicinal plant species, such as those of the genus Baccharis, potentially bioaccumulate toxic elements. We evaluate the metal content from coal mining activity present in Baccharis sagittalis and in the soil; and whether this plant consumption represents a risk to human health. Cd and Pb presented levels that exceed those recommended by three global health agencies. Cd and Pb showed high levels in the projections of the daily intake recommended by international health agencies. After interviewing local residents close to mining areas, we found that 53.8 % of the interviewees mentioned the consumption of Baccharis sagittalis as infusion. These results indicate that the consumption of metal-contaminated Baccharis sagittalis can cause health problems as those metals accumulate in the human body. However, studies on Al, Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn acceptable levels in plants consumed by humans are scarce. The contamination of plant species with associated traditional use close to mining areas can increase food security vulnerability of people who live near those areas and are constantly exposed to these agents, using plants gathered in the region.

Resumo Além de sua importância ecológica, espécies epífitas de Orchidaceae desempenham papéis econômicos e sociais através de sua comercialização e algumas estão em grande risco de extinção. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a anatomia foliar e radicular de quatorze espécies epífitas de Orchidaceae, que ocorrem em território indígena no Parque Estadual da Serra do Tabuleiro (PEST), Santa Catarina, Brasil e identificar características anatômicas adaptativas relacionadas ao hábito epifitico. As espécies são comercializadas pelos Guarani e foram coletadas durante entrevistas e visitas guiadas com os Guarani no território indígena. Os resultados revelam que as espécies possuem muitas estruturas morfoanatômicas úteis durante a escassez de água resultante do hábito epifítico. Características notáveis estão relacionadas à reserva de água (pseudobulbos e hipoderme com células de armazenamento de água) e resistência à dessecação na folha (cutícula conspícua, câmara suprasomática e fibras extraxilares e pericíclicas) e raiz (i.e., tilossomas e / ou espessamento exodérmico e células do córtex com espessamentos phi ou esclereides). Descrições e identificação de características adaptativas de espécies de plantas epífitas são úteis para estudos de conservação e cultivo, especialmente para plantas utilizadas comercialmente pelos índios Guarani.

Abstract Besides their ecological importance, epiphytic species of Orchidaceae play economic and social roles through their commercialization and some are at great risk of extinction. The objectives of this study were to characterize the leaf and root anatomy of fourteen epiphytic Orchidaceae species, which occur in indigenous territory in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Tabuleiro (P.E.S.T.), Santa Catarina, Brazil and to identify adaptive anatomical characteristics related to the epiphytic habit. The species are commercialized by the Guarani and were collected during interviews and guided tours with Guarani in the indigenous territory. The results reveal the species have many morphoanatomical structures that are useful during water shortages resulting from the epiphytic habit. Notable characteristics are related to reserving water (i.e., pseudobulbs and a hypodermis with water-storage cells) and resistance to desiccation in the leaf (i.e., conspicuous cuticle, suprastomatic chamber and extraxylary and pericyclic fibers) and root (i.e., tilosomes and/or exodermal thickening and cortex cells with phi thickenings or sclereids). Descriptions and the identification of adaptive characteristics of epiphytic plant species are useful for conservation and cultivation studies, especially for plants commercially used by the Guarani Indians.