Purpose The aim of this study was to summarise the features of toxication on cases of occupational subacute 1,2-dichloroethane poisoning and to evaluate the prognosis through their different patterns of clinical manifestation.

Methods In this cross sectional study, medical records of all occupational subacute 1,2- dichloroethane intoxicated patients at the Guangzhou Occupational Health Prevention and Treatment Centre, Guangdong, China from 2009 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical features, laboratory findings, cranial computed tomography (CT) and therapies of each case were evaluated.

Results A total of 59 patients were included for evaluation. There were 3 main clinical manifestations (1): intracranial hypertension (n=29), tremor of the limbs(n=20), mental and behavioural disorder (n=10).There were four cases of mortality while basic recovery was observed in 45 patients and 10 experienced an improvement of symptoms.

Conclusion The clinical characteristic of occupational subacute 1,2- dichloroethane poisoning is central nervous system damage. It is serious after onset, especially in intracranial hypertension patients without specific antidote. However, prompt treatment resulted in a favourable prognosis in most case.