Why do the edge of the pages from books turn yellow?

Question

I bought a paperback about a month ago and now the edges all gone all yellowy! But why???

Answer 1

Cheap paper has more acid in it, and it disintegrates more quickly.  Acid-free paper costs more.  (Just as a side note, a lot of books from before 1850 are in better preservation than books from 1900, because cheap paper was often used on the later books.)

Answer 2

Exposure to the elements - lights (inside and sunlight), changes in temperature, rain, snow, fog, etc.

Answer 3

Paper is made from wood which contains a naturally occuring substance called lignin in it.  When the paper is exposed to air, and sunlight speeds up this process, the paper oxidizes paper and exposes more of the lignin which is yellow.  

You can find out more here:  http://iq.lycos.co.uk/qa/show/47718/

Answer 4

The only way to prevent it is to have the book printed with acid free paper. Sorry but your publisher was cheap.