Plasma volume shifts were investigated in five male subjects who rested and exercised in the upright, low-sit, and supine postures in a hot humid environment (49.5 degrees C, 28.9 Torr). The resting and exercise periods were each 45 min in duration. Weight losses during rest were 0.3% with an additional weight loss of 1.1% during exercise. During exercise subjects worked at either 360 or 540 kpm.min-1 in each of three postures. Each experiment was preceded by a 30-min control period in the supine posture at an ambient temperature of 22 degrees C. At rest plasma volume was reduced 17.3% in the upright, 9.0% in the low-sit, and 2.2% in the supine postures (using the end of the supine rest as the zero reference point). Supine exercise resulted in a plasma volume decrease of 11%, the low-sit 7.1%, and the upright 2.7%. The total reduction in plasma volume during the rest and exercise period was 20% in the upright, 16.1% in the low-sit, and 13.3% in the supine. No significant differences in plasma volume shifts were observed between the high and low work loads. The results indicate that the plasma volume shifts observed during rest and exercise in the heat are qualitatively similar to those observed in a cool environment.