Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a chronic pulmonary disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and irreversible remodeling of lung tissue structure. Inhalation exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of IPF. The lung structure is complex，and a variety of cells participate in the process of pulmonary fibrosis，while the injury and dysfunction of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells(AT2)play a central role in the pathogenesis of IPF. This article summarizes the air pollutants related to IPF， focuses on the role and common mechanism of AT2 cells in the occurrence and development of IPF，analyzes the possibility of AT2 cells as a diagnostic biomarker and intervention target of IPF，to provide clues for air pollution prevention and population health risk assessment.