Fetal liver tissue concentrations of selected pollutant classes were determined in sheep fetuses and their dams, at 110 days of gestation (term = 145d) following exposure to pasture treated with either inorganic fertiliser (Control; C) or with sewage sludge (Treated; T). In flock 1, ewes were maintained on either T or C pastures throughout their breeding lives. Ewes of flock 2 were mated 2 weeks later and exposed to the same T pastures either, throughout life up to the time of experimental mating when they were transferred to control pasture (TC), or only from mating until slaughter at 110days gestation having been on untreated pastures before mating (CT). Neither maternal nor fetal tissue concentrations of DEHP, PCB, PBDE and PAH was affected by sludge exposure in any group. At 110 days gestation, mean DEHP concentrations were similar in adult and fetal tissues. Concentrations of PCB congeners 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 were generally higher in maternal tissues (P<0.001); only congeners 138 (flock 1) and 101 (flock 2) were not consistently different. Tissue concentrations of PBDE congeners 153, 154 and 183 were generally below the limit of detection. There were higher concentrations of congeners 47 (P<0.001) and 99 (P<0.05) in fetal than maternal tissue in flock 2 but in flock 1, only congener 99 differed and, in contrast to animals of flock 1, concentrations were higher (P<0.001) in maternal than fetal tissue. Amongst 16 PAHs measured, most concentrations were lower in fetal than maternal tissue but benzo[a]pyrene concentrations were higher (P<0.01) in fetuses in both flocks. Maternal and fetal tissue concentrations of individual chemicals were not significantly correlated for any individual chemical. It is concluded that a) exposure of sheep to slightly elevated environmental concentrations of EDCs was not associated with significantly increased maternal or fetal liver concentrations, irrespective of exposure window; b) individual tissue concentrations may be an inadequate index of EDC insult; c) fetal EDC burden cannot be predicted from maternal tissue measurements.