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Nasty goo or oiliness is usually the plasticisers from PVC. Sometimes green goo forms inside cables and works its way out at the terminals. Presumably a reaction with copper.
Never leave PVC in contact with polystyrene. The PVC will deplasticise and the polystyrene will dissolve. Expanded polystyrene will suffer very badly. Hard polystyrene, such as used in many sets of small drawers, will be marked.
As others have said, PVC cable can also mark other materials, such as some oiled or lacquered surfaces.
It can be a safety hazard where PVC insulated house wiring is in contact with expanded polystyrene thermal insulation.
Old PVC insulation may not be in the same rotten class as old rubber but sometimes it comes close.
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