It’s not that surprising that petrol stations generate large amounts of potentially toxic chemicals (Benzene and Hexane, among others).
Today’s invention aims to lessen the chance of a lungful of this stuff as you fill your tank (and prepare to fork out £60 or so for the privilege).
Each filler nozzle would have a small vacuum cleaner, activated when fuel was flowing, which would suck air and the dangerous vapours back through a valve before they could be breathed.
The vapours might then be condensed and passed back into liquid storage (although this would depend on the volume affected, since it might be possible inadvertently to alter the composition of the fuel on sale).
My guess is that eg Formula 1 pit crew already have this technology in place, for reasons of fire safety.
