CD Underworld: Once thought indestructible, compact discs require special care, experts contend

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004 | 8:19 a.m.

When compact disc technology was first marketed in America in 1983, scientists touted the new music format as virtually indestructible.

Two decades later, however, concerns are spreading over whether CDs are beginning to show signs of wearing out.

Several recent media accounts, including a widely circulated Associated Press story from May, suggest older compact discs may be breaking down.

Two degrading conditions have been reported both of which involve the destructive oxidation of data along with a fungus that attacks and destroys discs.

It's a frightening thought for millions of Americans who have invested in the medium, many of whom upgraded collections from vinyl records and cassette tapes to CDs.

Should Southern Nevadans be concerned?

Not as much as those in other parts of the country, says Alex Vaughan, store manager at Big B's CDs & Records (4761 S. Maryland Parkway). As the shop's used product buyer, Vaughan checks the condition of hundreds of compact discs every day. "Thousands and thousands of discs go through my hands per week," Vaughan said. "I have seen (degrading conditions), but it's not common at all here. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it doesn't happen often."

One condition, known as CD Rot, results from the oxidation of the disc's data-carrying layer. Reportedly, it is caused by poor manufacturing of the CD's top (label) side, and can be spotted as a series of pinprick-sized holes.

Another condition works its way in from the outer edge of the disc, when the layers holding a CD together become delaminated, allowing air to penetrate.

Again, oxidation can occur, with the music toward the end of the disc becoming affected. If it looks as if something is eating at the bottom side of a CD, this is most likely the cause.

Most reports suggest, however, that these CD maladies are most prevalent in high-humidity climates or in settings far from ideal for CD storage.

One music collector featured in the recent AP story, for example, lives in the Northwest. Another stored his discs in a cabin in Oregon, a few feet from a wood-burning stove.

And a harmful fungus said to destroy the plastic and aluminum layers of CDs is reported to be isolated to the humid tropical regions of South and Central America.

Summertime blues?

Allen Johnson, assistant professor for chemistry at UNLV, said Southern Nevadans should be more concerned about the potential effects of the sun and heat, particularly during the summer.

"Vast temperature variations are not a good idea," Johnson said. "Heat could lead to delamination, that is, a tearing apart of the layers. So it's best not to leave them in your car in our hot weather."

Johnson suggests a standard office environment or air-conditioned home, with low heat and humidity, as an ideal storage setting for compact discs.

Dan Lee, music director at KKLZ 96.3-FM, agrees. He keeps the station's CD collection -- which he said numbers in the thousands -- between 72 and 74 degrees at all times.

"If you take good care of them, they should last a long time," Lee said. "We've got some stuff in there that's 16, 17 years old, and we haven't had to replace very many discs over the years."

Johnson also recommended keeping CDs out of direct sunlight.

"You should consider that they're made from plastic, so exposure to sunlight could cloud them," Johnson said. "And if you cloud the plastic, the laser might not be able to read the music."

A few of other CD care and maintenance recommendations:

Avoid rubbing CDs, which can create scratches.

Scratches along the disc's underside are more common, but actually cause less damage than scratches on top. The reason? Data is stored just under the protective layer on the label side.

"When the laser comes up from underneath, if there's a scratch on top, it can shoot right through and skip," Vaughan said.

Vaughan suggests avoiding CD carrying cases with rough surfaces, which can harm the very discs they are intended to protect.

"When we look at a disc (in the store), if we see even minor scuffs, we say forget it," Vaughan said.

Hold CDs along the edges, handling them as infrequently as possible.

Some reports even suggest that normal acids on the surface of human fingers can cause damage over time.

"If you handle them all the time, somebody's going to drop them, scratch them, cut a sandwich with them," Lee said. "An old morning crew here even used one to cut a cake once."

Don't write on the CD surface.

Ink could penetrate the disc's outer later, particularly if there are scratches or other imperfections present, and damage the data-carrying layer.

Johnson suggests writing on the clear margin at the center of a CD, since there is no data underneath that area.

Wipe CDs down with a dry cloth occasionally.

Dirt left on the surface can grind into the disc over time, particularly when CDs are stacked together, as in spindles.

"The question is: How long go you really want to hold onto your CDs?" Johnson said. "If you want to hold onto them for 20, 30 years or longer, you should do reasonable things with them."

Johnson recommends making archival CDR copies of important discs, and playing those copies while storing the originals. That advice comes with a caveat, however.

"CDRs store the music in a dye layer that is changed in your CD burner," Johnson said. "Because the CDR is meant to be changed after manufacturing, you may expect that CDRs might be easier to change accidentally (later on)."