JDHR (you know who you are) will love the start of the article
referred to below

>> Avoid inks with Xylene in them (amongst, no doubt, other things).
>> Does your marker use Xylene? :-)

> How would one know whether it does? I can't remember having seen
> "contains
> xylene" written on a marker...

That was the point of my question.
It's hard to tell (for me anyway) and as it's a risk to CD's it means
any marker is a potential hazard.
Googling on xylene and marker gives 58000 hits.
Many say "xylene free" so it's obviously an issue for various reasons.
Sounds like looking for a xylene free marker may be more profitable
than seeing if the word xylene is absent in the label.
It may be that smell will tell you ???

Here's Jack Gansell's thoughts on the subject from
http://www.embedded.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=3D2210329=
2

Notice the "store vertical like a book" advice (also seen elsewhere).

        RM

__________________
DVDs, CDs, and tapes should be kept in a cool, dry place when not
being used. ANSI standard IT9.13 suggests keeping them at a constant
65 to 70F and 45 to 50% relative humidity (RH). Widely fluctuating
temperature or RH severely shortens the life span of all recordings.
Environmental conditions must not fluctuate more that =B110F or =B110% RH
over a 24-hour period. Keep recordings away from light, especially
sunlight and unshielded fluorescent lights.

Keep these media in their individual cases to buffer rapid
environmental changes and protect them from airborne contaminants.
Don't substitute paper sleeves for the cases; DVD and CD jewel boxes
keep the disk from contacting the case. Remove paper materials, which
tend to attract and absorb water.

Label CDs and DVDs with a xylene-free marker like the Staedtler
Lumocolor CD/DVD Markers (available from office-supply firms). Xylene
will eat the lacquer layer. Never use a fine point marker, which may
dent the lacquer. It's best to write on the inner hub where there's no
metal and, thus, no data.

Store disks vertically, like a book. On their side they may bow. And
don't use paper labels on disks stored for more than about five years,
as the paper can absorb moisture, inducing more bowing.

Never use rewriteable CDs or DVDs for long-term storage as they
contain a heat-sensitive layer that decays much faster than the metal
layers of cheaper write-once products.


--=20
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