BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate yesterday voted unanimously to phase out the use of mercury in consumer products.

The bill passed 38-0, with all North of Boston members — Sens. Steven A. Baddour, D-Methuen, Frederick Berry, D-Peabody, Susan C. Tucker, D-Andover, and Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester — voting.

The bill passed the House unanimously in February. If the bill becomes law, Massachusetts would become the final state in New England to restrict mercury use in consumer products.

Under the plan approved by the Senate, Massachusetts would restrict the sale of thermostats, thermometers, barometers, electrical switches, and blood-pressure cuffs that use mercury. Cars made after Jan. 1, 2007, could not be sold here if they contain mercury.

Manufacturers also would have to set up collection programs so consumers could return mercury-laden products for disposal.

Tucker was the bill's primary supporter in the Senate and has pushed the legislation in the upper chamber since it was first filed six years ago.

"This has been the No. 1 environmental priority for the Merrimack Valley for several years," Tucker said.

Mercury disposed of improperly gets into streams, rivers and ponds and into food such as fish. Mercury can get into the water through incinerators, like ones in Haverhill and North Andover, which burn devices containing mercury that were improperly thrown out.

The state Department of Public Health recommends pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 12 not eat freshwater fish caught in Massachusetts. The state also recommends women not eat other types of fish that could contain mercury, such as shark, swordfish and tuna.

The House and Senate bills differ in how they address the way automobile manufacturers collect mercury for disposal. The House would require manufacturers to pay to have the mercury removed from the cars. The Senate wants to give automakers a year to allow a national collection program to be implemented before forcing a local solution.

Those differences will have to be worked out by a conference committee. To become law, a final bill would then have to emerge from the committee and be approved by both chambers before being signed by the governor.

The Romney administration has not taken a position on the legislation but says it has worked to reduce mercury emissions.