Epicuticular wax from the leaves of Tillandsia stricta Sol. Sims and Tillandsia usneoides (L.) from Grumari, Marica and Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro sandbanks was extracted into chloroform and n-hexane for analyses. The extracts were subjected to gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. In the investigated species, the major n-alkane was found to be C-27. This study has shown that the relation of n-alkanes and fatty acids is a function of the species and the triterpenoids were only observed in the wax of T. usneoides. Phthalates: di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), di isobutyl phthalate (DIBP); Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), benzoic acid, adipic acid derivatives were also detected beyond of DDT in T. stricta from the Conservation Unit of Jurubatiba. The exposure of T. usneoides to vehicular emission resulted in the reversal of the relationship fatty acid: n-alkanes and the triterpenoids suppression. These results reflect the importance of plants in monitoring environmental purposes and their potential for DDT and phthalates indicator.