To study acute toxicity of brain tissue caused by 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) under static inhalation. The rats were exposed to 1,2-DCE 12 hours by consecutive static inhalation. The morphology changes of brain were observed on different dose of treated rats. Dry weight and wet weight (water content) of brain were investigated too. The results showed that it is no obvious change in morphology and water content when rats were exposed to 1,2-DCE of 2.5 g/m3. The light brain edema appeared when exposed dose was 5.0 g/m3, and the average water content of brain (82.14%) was higher than control group (79.82%), which had significantly difference. The brain morphology of the 10.0 g/m3-group was significant changed compared with that of the control group. The water content of the 10.0 g/m3-group (83.65%) was significantly higher than that of the control group(79.82%) too. The study suggests that 1,2-DCE could result in brain edema when rats inhaled lots of 1,2-DCE in short time.