"body odor" smell from aging CDs and DVDs

Factual Questions
1

A few years ago I noticed that the CD section of the downtown Chicago public library had a strong smell of “body odor.” But eventually I decided that something in the aging discs themselves or the plastic cases used by the library must be giving off some gas (do I remember butadiene from high school chemistry?)

Someone recently asked why the DVD section at the same library smells of body odor. But my Googling didn’t turn up the expected reference to this being a common problem. The library does have its share of homeless guys, but I’ve never noticed them browsing the CDs or DVDs. Over time, I guess the CDs would gather traces of skin oils from thousands of different patrons, but that would seem to be true of many things in modern urban life.

Anyone else ever observe this smell where large groups of CDs are gathered together?

2

I’ve observed it, but have no idea of what causes it.

It’s not just well used ones too, it’s on almost all of them. My guess would be something in the plastics themselves.

3

I’ve smelled this BO-like scent on a cheap plastic duffel bag (unused) I bought from Walmart. I wonder if it’s the same material used in CDs.

I recall scotch tape from Dollar Tree smelling like BO also.

I just read something about polycarbonate, maybe that’s the culprit.