Lichen deterioration of asbestos and asbestiform minerals of serpentinite rocks in Western Alps

► Naturally Occurring Asbestos are exposed to lichen deterioration. ► Asbestos minerals in lichen-colonized veins undergo chemical modifications. ► Different asbestos are differently affected in their toxicity-relevant properties. ► Incongruent dissolution patterns are associated to significant asbestos inactivation. ► Lichen deterioration may yield asbestos bioattenuation, but not in all cases.