The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship of ventilation (VE) with pH, arterial concentrations of potassium [( K+]a), bicarbonate [( HCO3-]a), lactate [( la]a), and acid-base parameters which would affect hyperpnoea during exercise and recovery. To assess this relationship, ten healthy male subjects exercised with intensity increasing as a ramp function of 20 W.min-1 until voluntary exhaustion and they were then allowed a 5-min recovery period. Breath-by-breath gas exchange data, [HCO3-]a, pH, [la]a, [K+]a and blood gases were determined during both exercise and recovery. Using a linear regression method, the VE/[K+]a relationship was analysed during both exercise and recovery. Several interesting results were obtained: a significant relationship between [K+]a and VE was observed during recovery as well as during exercise; the VE at any given values of [K+]a was significantly higher during recovery than during exercise and out of those factors affecting exercise hyperpnoea, only [K+]a had a similar time-course to VE during recovery. Changes in [K+]a during recovery were shown to occur significantly faster than VE with an [K+]a time constant of 70.0 s, SD 16.2 as opposed to 105.5 s, SD 10.0 for VE (P less than 0.01). These results provided further evidence that [K+]a might play an important role as a substance which can stimulate exercise hyperpnoea as has been suggested by other workers. The present study also showed that during recovery [K+]a contributed significantly to the control of VE.