Objective To explore the damaging mechanism of action in rat hepatocytes exposed to 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE). Methods The cytoplasmic free Ca~(2+) concentration in rat hepatocytes were measured by microfluorometry. Meanwhile, the damage of rat hepatocytes were evaluated with measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the supernatant of the culture medium and determination of cytoplasmic free Ca~(2+) concentration. Results There was no sifnificant difference between cytoplasmic free Ca~(2+) concentrations of rat hepatocytes exposed to DCE and that of control group (P>0.05), but the LDH activity in the supernatant of culture medium in the groups exposed to 10 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L DCE was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01). Conclusion The mechanism of damaging action to rat hepatocytes was not due to disturbance of cytoplasmic free Ca~(2+) concentration in rat hepatocytes.