The project titled "The Moderating Role of Cardiopulmonary Fitness in the Effect of Occupational Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Exposure on Allostatic Load in Firefighters" has been granted support under the TÜBİTAK 1002-A Rapid Support Program, supervised by Assist.Prof.Dr. Nuray Demiralp of the Property Protection and Security Department at Kastamonu University Bozkurt Vocational School. 

The project team includes researchers such as Kocaeli University faculty members Prof. Dr. Tayfun Şahin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serpil Gerdan, and Asst. Prof. Dr. İnci Özdemir, as well as Asst. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Ütük from Ankara University. The project is supervised by Prof. Dr. Hürmüz Koç, a faculty member of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. 

The project, which aims to use scientific data to reveal occupational health risks for firefighters, focuses on the effects of environmental chemicals on human physiology. 

The project, which will last 12 months and be conducted with a budget of 100,000 TL, will examine the long-term health effects of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to which firefighters are exposed during their duties. 

The Physiological Buffer Hypothesis, which underlies the research, posits that the relationship between PFAS exposure and increased physiological stress may be weaker in individuals with high VO₂max levels. The project aims to determine whether physical fitness serves as a protective mechanism against environmental risk factors. 

It is expected that the findings obtained from the research will contribute to the development of health policies for individuals working in high-risk occupational groups and the scientific re-evaluation of occupational protective measures.