Subject: What is causing the 'bad' odor from my mouse pad?

I am having a hard time getting used to the smell coming form my mouse 
pad.  I find it objectionable but my wife doesn't seem to mind it.  My 
question is threefold actually:
  
  1.  What is it made of (I believe it is the same rubber material now 
used on the soles of many sandal type shoes)?

  2.  Does the fact that there is an odor mean that particles of the 
mouse pad are in the air?  Does it have a high vapor pressure?

  3.  Why would some people find the smell objectionable and others 
not.  If something smells bad, are the senses trying to tell one to 
avoid the smell, i.e. is everything that smells bad best to be avoided 
or is it possible for something to smell bad but at the same time be a 
substance that is either neutral or actaully beneficial to an 
organism?

Thanks.

Re: What is causing the 'bad' odor from my mouse pad?