Hi Keith those are good questions .... when the dice are decomposing you may want to take a can of clear lacquer spray and give them a nice coating that will preserve further damage... those that have a strong odor are showing signs of decomposing ... I would isolate them from the other dice .... also heat is a big factor .... keep them as cool as possible that will prolong the life of them .... here in Las Vegas I’ve lost many dice in my storage units due to the heat factor.... take care hope that helps ....Rich in Vegas