O/T Air conditioner gas dispersal.

I suppose it's O/T but can also refer to vehicle air con, so I don't feel too bad about asking for help from our vastly experienced group.
We are having a bit of office renovation at work, and a three year old air conditioner had to be removed.
The apprentice used sidecutters to release the gas, which we then explained that turtles will die because of this, (and maybe vast herds of budgies) and he is repentant, very, very repentant.
Now he is scared because some sticky/slimy white goo that came out of the severed pipe got on his hands which he wiped off on his King Gees.
Does anyone know if this white goo is carcinogenic, and should he/we be worried?
I suppose worst case scenario is a day off for his funeral, but we would like to plan for it if necessary.
Cheers
Ian