The document discusses environmental degradation of polymers. It defines monomers as small molecules used to synthesize polymers through chemical bonding. Polymer degradation is a change in properties like strength, color or shape due to environmental factors like heat, light or chemicals. There are various types of degradation including thermal, photo-oxidative, mechanical, biological and through irradiation or chemicals. Reducing eliminated byproducts like HCl from thermal degradation of PVC can help reduce degradation, as can using polymers with strong chemical bonds.